What The Lord requires of believers

  What the Lord requires of believers

The Prophet Micah states,

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

Micah here makes it clear what God requires of all who believe in him.

We are to...

do justice,

love kindness,

walk humbly with God.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are these three halmarks of a believer part of your life?

Please think about it.

About your attitude

  About Your Attitude

In the book of Philippians we read,

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8.

Why do you do what you do?

Many people do what they do out of selfish ambition. They do things for the glory it gives them. They like waving and saying “look at me! Look how important I am!” All they are looking out for is themselves.

A true leader knows how to lift up those who are under him or her.  A good leader is in affect the servant of those under them.

This is especially so in the Church. Leaders need to look to the interests of those they are interacting with. As the apostle Paul states,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

Do you humble yourself, considering others better than yourself?

Please think about it.

He Crowns the Humble

  He Crowns the Humble

The Psalmist writes,

“For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

he crowns the humble with salvation.” 

                                                          Psalm 149:4

I think our road to salvation begins when we admit to ourselves that we cannot work our way to heaven. When we humble ourselves before God and say I cannot do it alone. I cannot be good enough to enter Heaven without God. 

The apostle Paul writes,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

not by works, so that no one can boast." 

                                                               Ephesians 2:8,9. 

Are you trying in your own strength to be good enough to get into heaven?

If so you’ll never be good enough to get into heaven. 

The apostle Paul writes,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

                                                                     Romans 5:8.

Why not accept the fact that Christ died for your sins. The apostle John wrote,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

So will you humble yourself before God today, confess your sins directly to God, and accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour today.

Please think about it.

Are you humble?

  Are you Humble?

In the book of James we read,

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, 

and He will lift you up.” 

                                              James 4:10 

The Psalmist notes,

“He guides the humble in what is right

 and teaches them his way.” 

                                                                     Psalm 25:9

In Psalm 149 the Psalmist states

“For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

He crowns the humble with salvation.” 

                                                           Psalm 149:4

In the book of Philippians we get this advice,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

So are you a proud or humble person?

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus. When you present the gospel message do you present it in humility. Allowing the person you present it to, to decide for themselves whether or not to believe what you say?

Please think about it.

What God asks of us

  What God asks of us

The Prophet Micah states,

“He (God) has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.

If you consider yourself a Christian do you follow this command of God in all aspects of your life? Do the teachers, preachers, evangelist and politicians you support and listen to do what Micah is saying here?

Please think about it.

Clothe yourself

  Clothe yourself

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you. In the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Peaceful and Holy lives

  Peaceful and Holy lives

The writer of Hebrews states,

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.

Do you live a holy life? By that I don’t mean are you quoting scripture all the time, or bringing attention to the fact you read the bible and pray all the time.

In the book of James we read,

“Humble yourself before the Lord 

and He will lift you up.”

                                James 4:10.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                         Francis of Assisi.

If we are living peaceful and holy lives people will notice and gravitate toward us. At the very least living peaceful and holy lives shows those around us we are no threat to them. While at the same time opening doors allowing us to present the Gospel of Christ.

So are you living a peaceful and holy life?

Please think about it.

What The Lord requires

  What The Lord Requires?

The Prophet Micah writes,

"He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness

and to walk humbly with your God?" 

                                                                    Micah 6:8 (ESV)

So if you claim to be a Christians. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you following this admonition from the prophet Micah?

God makes it clear what is good. 

To do justice.

To love kindness.

To walk humbly with God.

Please think about it.

A Servants heart

  A servants heart

Jesus said,

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45.

This is the key to a true Christian life. To serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and those around us. Sadly many Christian leaders, pastors, teachers and evangelist, even men and women in the pew don’t follow this principle.

To many pastors, teachers and evangelist want to have big houses, fancy private jets instead of serving. They like to be the centre of attention.

“...Jesus told this parable:  

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9b-14.

As believers we need to remember we are called to be servants of God. Men and women who have the responsibility in word and deed to spread the gospel message and help whoever we can.

Francis of Assis wrote this prayer,

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." 

                                                                       Francis of Assisi.

Is this your prayer? Do you believe this is the prayer of the pastor, teacher or evangelist you follow?

Please think about it.

Micah's admonition

Micah's admonition

The Prophet Micah wrote,

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus are you doing what the prophet Micah is saying here?

Please think about it.

What is good

 What is good

The Prophet Micah writes,

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

 And what does the Lord require of you? 

To act justly and to love mercy 

and to walk humbly with your God." 

                                                             Micah 6:8.

This is a duty of every believer in Christ Jesus. Every believer in God. 

  We are

to act justly, 

to love mercy, 

to walk humbly with God.

These attributes are what God desires in a believer.

Thus my question to you. If you consider yourself a believer in Christ are these attributes visible in your life?

Please think about it.

Love Mercy

Love Mercy
In the book of Micah we read,
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.
From the actions of some Christians I would conclude that they do not act justly, do not love mercy and fail to walk humbly with God. Certainly many non-Christians would agree with me.
Many calling themselves Christians seem to be constantly yelling about the sins of the world when it is not their place to do that.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love, 

                                  Billy Graham

It is the job of all believers in Christ Jesus to reach out to the world around them with the saving grace of Christ Jesus. We cannot do this if we are not acting justly. If we don’t show mercy. If we are not showing love.
Matthew’s gospel records,
"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:10-13.
Many calling themselves Christians today are acting exactly like those pharisees. As a result they will never reach people for Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1Timothy 1:15,16.
I think the true believer in Christ Jesus needs to see themselves a “the worst of sinners” saved by the mercy and grace of God.
If they did at the very least it would humble them before God and man and help them better minister the gospel of Christ to those around them?
Please think about it.

Walk humbly with God

Walk humbly with God
In the book of Micah we read,
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.
While this was a call to the Israelites it is also a call to all who would call themselves believers in Christ Jesus. To all Christians.
We are to act justly in all our affairs.
To love mercy.
And above all walk humbly with God.
Thus my question to anyone who calls themselves a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus;

Are you acting justly in all your affairs? 

Do you love Mercy? 

Do you walk humbly with God?

Please think about it?

Are you there yet?

Are you there yet?
In Luke’s gospel we read,
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  
I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.
So I ask,

Are you there yet?

            Or

Are you still too proud and self-righteous?

The apostle Paul writes,

“for all have sinned

 and fall short of the glory of God,” 

                                               Romans 3:23.

That all means everyone, you, me, the pope, every priest, pastor, evangelist, political leader, every person that has ever lived. All of us have sinned. Not only that we sin and fall short of what God wants for our lives every day.
It is only when we admit this can we ever draw closer to and be effective for God.
The apostle Paul one of the greatest men in Christian history said,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1Timothy 1:15,16.
It is only when we truly humble ourselves before God and admit that we are sinners that we can become effective for God.
In order to be effective for Christ we must realize how far we have come. We must look back as the apostle Paul did, and humbly admit to anyone who will listen we were the worst of sinners. And that, if Christ can save us, He can save anyone.
So my questions to anyone who claims to be a Christian is,

Are you confident of your own righteousness, 

someone who looks down on everybody else? 

Or

Are you humble enough to admit you are the worst of sinners?

Are you there yet?

Please think about it.

Pharisee of Tax Collector?

Pharisee or Tax collector?
The Epistle of James states,

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. 

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  

Come near to God 

and he will come near to you. 

Wash your hands, you sinners, 

and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  

Grieve, mourn and wail.

 Change your laughter to mourning 

and your joy to gloom.  

Humble yourselves before the Lord, 

and he will lift you up.” 

                                                 James 4:7-10.

If you claim to be a believer in Jesus Christ do you truly humble yourself before Him?
James uses strong words here. He tells sinners to wash their hands of their sins. To purify their hearts. He then states, Grieve, mourn, wail. Change your laughter to mourning you joy to gloom. To truly humble yourself before God.
I think we as followers in Christ Jesus are quite often too casual about our salvation. We say we are saved yet we all sin and fall short of what God wants for our lives from time to time.
It is in those times when we sin that we need to grieve and wail. We need to go to our knees and say “O Lord forgive me.”
Luke’s Gospel records,
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  
I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 
Luke 18:9-14.
In this scenario who are you, the Pharisee or the Tax collector.
Please think about it.

Infidel and Libertine

Infidel and Libertine
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1Timothy 1:15,16
I believe it is in the church where John Newton the author of the beloved hymn Amazing grace preached much of his life, is a plaque with this inscription.
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”
Above I’ve quoted from two men both giants in the history of Christianity, the apostle Paul and John Newton.
Although born a millennium and a half plus apart both had the same thing to tell.
Paul was a persecutor of Christians. Who initially put believers in prison. Yet Christ reached down to Paul and changed his life. This humbled Paul. Thus Paul could write, that he was the worst of sinners. That he was shown mercy so that,...
Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 
John Newton was a slave trader who reportedly treated slaves brutally and forced himself on the female slaves. A man whom God reached down to and changed his life. A man who in the latter years of his life, reportedly told a friend
“My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
I think especially today here in North America many calling themselves Christians within our congregations and denominations, do not acknowledge they are sinners. They certainly do not think they are the worst of sinners.
Jesus tells this parable,
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  
I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.
Many calling themselves Christians are not humble. They consciously or subconsciously think they have all the answers. They consider themself righteous in the sight of God simply because they have confessed their sins to God.
They call to other believers in Christ and indeed the secular world around them to repent of their sins. To conform to Christian values. Telling them if they don’t they are going to hell.
In doing so they pass judgement without mercy on those around them, quite often without realizing it.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
We must especially when dealing with the world around us remember at one time we were “the worst of sinners” in need of God’s Saving Grace. That we in our day to day lives fall short of God’s ideal for our lives and people around us see that.
We must remember that the world is watching us. We must remember they will not listen to anyone who is judging them. That I believe is why the apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. 
“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We as true believers in Christ must at all times be humble. To remember where we have come from.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”James 4:6-12.
If we like the apostle Paul and John Newton remember every day that we at one time were the worst of sinners in need of Christ’s Saving Grace we will I believe be able to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ far better.
Billy Graham the great American Evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                           Billy Graham.

Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
And the best way I feel we can do this is if we are humble of heart.
Please think about it.

Do Good

Do Good
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  
As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:13-17
Here are some points to ponder.
James warns Christians not to leave God out of our plans. It’s good to plan, however we should remember that we do not know what tomorrow brings. All our carefully laid plans can come tumbling down around us in a moment. All of our boasting and bragging coming to nothing.
Boasting and bragging as James says is sin. We should never boast about what we are doing or what we have done.
We must remember we only have, and we only have done what God has allowed us to have and to do. Thus we must be humble about what we do and give God the glory.
Our live as James tells us is but a mist. It is fragile and can end in a moment. We must remember to use our life to do good.
James tells us,
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
When I was a teenager before I gave my life to Christ, the Musical “Good by Mr. Chips” came out. It’s theme song has stayed with me all these years because the words made sense. The words are,

In the Morning of My Life

“In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?”

                                                                     Leslie Bricusse                                                                                                          From the Musical Good by Mr chips  
John Wesley the great Methodist preacher wrote,

Do all the good you can,

By any means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

                                                                             John Wesley.
As Christians yes we can plan for the future. However it is imperative that we always include God in those plans.
It is also imperative that we do all the good we can in this world. As the writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 Hebrews 12:14.

Please think about it.

True Greatness

True Greatness

"Former Secretary of State James Baker once said, "Someone asked me what was the most important thing I had learned since being in Washington. I replied that it was the fact that temporal power is fleeting." Baker went on to observe that once driving through the White House gates he saw a man walking alone on Pennsylvania Avenue and recognized him as having been Secretary of State in a previous administration. "There he was alone - no reporters, no security, no adoring public, no trappings of power. Just one solitary man alone with his thoughts. And that mental picture continually serves to remind me of the impermanence of power and the impermanence of place."
What is true greatness? Throughout history there has been many great men and women. Men and women who have done noble deeds. Most are lost to history.
Jesus said,
“The greatest among you will be your servant.  
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” 
                                                                                                Matthew 23:11,12.
Ben Zion Bokser wrote,
“The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment.  He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’  He said too himself.  Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding aan hour before.  Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound.  One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?  My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted.  And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when aa bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.  My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye.  I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness.  So don’t grieve for me.  My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent.  The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.”
                                                                                                         Ben Zion Bokser.
True greatness is doing one’s duty no matter how humble it is. It is to give of one’s self in an unselfish way. To show love to all men, even your enemy.
The greatest people are not necessarily men and women with political, religious or military power. They are the average person on the street who see a need and meet that need in what ever way they can.
James writes,
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? "
                                                                                                               James 2:14-20.
Greatness lies in our deeds no matter how big or small. It lies in our willingness to help and serve people without expectation of recognition or remuneration.
Think about it.