We can make plans, spend money, study the Bible, pray, speak in tongues, develop leaders, cast out demons, practice spiritual disciplines, memorize scripture, go to discipleship classes, witness to our neighbors, serve in church, follow our leaders, persevere through suffering, etc. But what actually works?

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. – Galatians 5:6

This verse is more interesting in the Greek: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision any has power nor uncircumcision, but only faith through love working.

• power is ischuo: to be strong, have power. Usage: I have strength, am strong, am in full health and vigor, am able; I prevail.

• working is energeo: to be at work, to work, to do. Usage: I work, am operative, am at work, am made to work, accomplish.

I read it like this: Neither following all the rules nor being free of the rules has any power, but just believing in God and loving people works.

I remind myself of this most days. Not doing things perfectly, nor avoiding constraints. Not faith by itself, nor love by itself. Rather, we believe in God and therefore love because he told us to:

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. – 1 John 3:23

This is where we need to invest our efforts: believing and loving. Everything else rises and falls on this powerful work.