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    All of this talk of doing God’s will- that is seeking His Kingdom and His Righteousness- brings us to a very important point, and that point is that there is not a single thing we do that, even if we do it because of our faith, will save us. In fact, the things that we do because of faith are done because we have already been saved by our belief in Jesus Christ and His life, death, and resurrection on our behalf. We are already saved by Grace through faith not because of our works.
    Does this mean that faith is enough? Yes. Does this mean that we should not work because work has no purpose? No! The work that God has placed before us is for God’s glory, for the Kingdom, and for the strengthening of our own faith. God gives us this work because we need something to do to focus ourselves on Him, His Word, and on the righteousness Jesus earned for us. This work does not save, but it certainly builds and sustains us.
    This is the lesson that Saul failed to understand when he attacked the Amalekites. In Saul’s eyes, his kingship over Israel gave him the authority to act on his own. He placed his own works before God’s commands, and he paid the price. We must constantly watch out for this same temptation. God has saved us, and that fact is why we follow His commands, but these commands always follow the reality of our salvation by Grace through faith.
DLH
