Wednesday, April 14

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:10


What a verse! Do you realize what this is saying? When Paul says that you are God’s workmanship, that is the same as saying that you are His masterpiece!
Have you looked in a mirror lately? We don’t always feel like a masterpiece do we? It is very easy to doubt the truth of this verse, but God doesn’t make mistakes and He doesn’t do any average or halfway projects.

Did you know that when God created the cosmos, the creation sang as He did His work? “Where were you,” God asked Job, “when I laid the earth’s foundation…while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38: 4-7). It was spectacular artistry. God Himself looked at the work He was creating, and with the satisfaction of an artist, said, “Good!”

But when He came to create humans, male and female who together reflected His own essential being, He said “Very good!” In fact, after that climax of His artistry, He stopped creating, and took time to reflect and appreciate what He had done. It was perfect.

But here is the really great part…you are not just a masterpiece to hang on a wall and admire, God designed you for a purpose!

Before He even created human beings, He had a purpose in mind for them - the stewardship of the rest of creation (Genesis 1: 28). The first words God spoke to humans were a command to take care of the world that had just been created. While sin eventually marred God’s masterpiece of both humans and the rest of creation, the responsibility of stewardship still remains. In Ephesians 2: 10 Paul expands the original mandate to include all “good works”. That is our reason for being.

We are often reminded (and we need to be) that we are not saved by our good works. 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 But, this does not mean that our works don’t matter, they do!

Good works do count – but not for salvation. Finding acceptability with God requires God’s grace, nothing more and nothing less. But finding fulfillment in life involves living as God intended. God has planned good works for us to do, and that is how we find meaning in life.

Prayer:

Father, sometimes I forget who I am and why I am here. Thank you that I am your masterpiece, created in your image. Thank you also that you have created me to do Your good works. Help me by your Spirit not to miss these opportunities. - Amen

Jeff Frazier