Things We Ought To Do

Matt. 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

This sharp rebuke by Jesus Christ to the religious leaders of His day should also be taken seriously by us Christians today. Although we are saved by grace alone, not by our own works of righteousness, there are many things we ought to do, not as a matter of credit toward salvation, but as gratitude to God for our salvation. Of course, we should be loving and kind to others at all times, with mercy exhibited to others within our day to day relationships, and we should be faithful in our areas of service within our family, friends, work, church, and local community.

Other "oughts" of the Christian life would include the following incomplete listing:

1. Prayer - Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2. Obedience to God as a Priority - Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
3. Working and Sharing - Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
4. Gracious in Speech - Col. 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
5. Walking with God - 1 Thes. 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
6. Heeding God's Word - Heb. 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
7. Sanctified Behaviour - 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,