Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984
It is in my nature to ask questions; some are simple, some obvious, some existential. Most people I know have asked the same questions themselves such as "who am I?" and "Why am I here?" I find it interesting that God, who created us, anticipated such questions and thoughtfully provided answers for us, in advance.
Consider today's passage. It elegantly answers both those questions with a single sentence. As for "who" this passage teaches us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..." You, me, we are no mere accidents of genetic roulette. Nor are we by products of some other project. We are intentionally made by a master craftsman, made precisely as envisioned by the artist. We are God's 'piece de resistance!' That alone should suffice to give us comfort and peace. But if that's not enough, we were "created in Christ Jesus." Thus we are related to God, our human lineage notwithstanding.
Knowing that we are the intentional product of God's process of creation, we can then turn our attention to "why?" Again, this passage teaches us that we have been created to "do good works." We are not placed here and now in order to pursue our selfish passions or desires. Nor are we here to make a lot of money and accumulate a lot of inanimate objects. Neither are we here as mere decorations to be admired. We are here to 'do good works.' I read this to mean that we are to be the hands and feet of God in the world today. We are to be the skin with God inside.
As for the 'good works' we are to do, these are not some kind of incidental projects! The works we are to do have been "prepared in advance for us to do." God has set out the materials and supplies and they await our creative action. It's like on Sunday mornings when I go into the classroom, setup the tables, provide all the markers, pens, glue, glitter, scissors and paper. Then the kid's show up and at the end, there are wonderful cards, or bags, or aprons that are then given away to bring joy to another. The 'works' God has prepared for us are like that. We do them and bring joy to others. We worship and praise God, which pleases him. We grow in the image of His son which pleases him. We love on others, meeting their needs and giving of ourselves to them that they may be lifted up. We reach out and share our own joys and faith with others that they too may have that same joy and confidence and purpose. That's the 'why.'
God is sending us out into the world with an important message to deliver, one of love, joy and hope. I pray that I may be consumed with his purpose, that he will give me the strength and that I will accomplish the task before me.
Shalom,
Carl
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1 comment:
Man ... this one preaches - as do many of your devotional entries, Carl!
If one studies and believes God's word, we have no reason to ponder over the "whys" and "wherefores" of this life, do we?
Your target verse and Col. 1: 16 sort of tell us the answers to all those "who am I" and "why am I" questions, don't they?
Now, having those questions answered by God's truth, life is all about fulfilling those answers in/for Christ, ... and so we move into the day to do just that.
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