I know several people who like to do nice things for others. They love the attention that they get for doing nice things, and sometimes they want something in return for doing nice things.
I think that “dead works” and “worship the living God” can both look like doing nice things. However, worshipping the living God is doing any works or deeds that glorify our God, and dead works can become living deeds. Believing in the blood of Christ shed for us and Jesus’ sacrifice for us can make our dead works become living deeds that glorify God and not ourselves.
We are not just talking about doing nice things or performing good works now and then. We are talking about living our whole lives so that others can see that we worship the living God.
May we overflow with living deeds and with worshipping the living God. May we go beyond doing nice things to living lives that exude the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Living God, may we glorify you with our whole lives and with all our being. Amen. —