Faith that produces works

This is Luther on how saving faith produces works:

"Faith is a divine work in us. It changes us and makes us born anew. It is a busy, active, mighty thing, this faith; and so it is impossible for it to not do good works incessantly. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace… This confidence in God’s grace makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and all His creatures; and this is the work of the Holy Spirit in faith. Hence a man is ready and glad to, without compulsion, do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer anything, in love and praise to God, who has shown him this grace; and thus it is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as it is impossible to separate heat and light [from] fires." (Martin Luther, Introduction to his commentary on Romans, xvii)

When we see a lack of works of service, or lack of desire for works, we should never simply go directly to works and activity. We should, like Luther, go back to the gospel and see if we are living in it, believing it today from the heart. We repent first for unbelief, not laziness.