Tools - Flashlight 1

Ephesians 2:10

If you have any hope of getting somewhere it is helpful to know where you are going.  There have been times when our children have asked us to take them to a friend’s house – which we agree to do – but then discover they have no idea where it is.

One of the biggest challenges I have found in almost any job is knowing what it is I am expected to do.  I am more than willing to do almost any work, and usually capable of doing almost any task, I simply need direction.

The same is true of our faith.  If we have been provided with the backpack of our faith journey – the knowledge that God has loved us first and sent Jesus as our Savior – we now need something to put into our faith.  We need to know where we are heading with our beliefs.  We need a light to guide us.

What does this passage from Ephesians tell us about who we are as Christians?  What are we to do?  Why should we do these good works?

It may bring us a tremendous sense of comfort and confidence knowing that we are children of God and loved by God.  But now the question can arise – what do we do about it?  The author of Ephesians points out that we have been created by God to do good works.

We know in our faith that it is not good works that earns us a place in heaven.  We cannot achieve salvation through kind deeds and worthwhile efforts.  It is only through the saving grace of Jesus that we are given eternal life.

But there is a purpose for each of us.  God has prepared us in advance to do good in the world.  It is part of God’s desire that we are kind to other people, that we help those in need, that we make life better for those around us.  And part of that is sharing the love of God with others.

This is what God desires for us to do.  We should show love to others.  We should live out the teaching of Jesus.  Knowing that is like having God shine His light on our path.  As we take our faith journey God illuminates the way.  He shows us where we are to be going.

We should be moving ahead in our faith to take on good deeds, to do good and kind actions in the name of Christ.  God shines the light so that we may put our faith into action serving the Lord.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What good work do you feel called to do?

God Made Us 5

Ephesians 2:10

The church provided me with a laptop computer the second year we were here. It has become an absolutely vital part of my life and work. I use it constantly to work on sermons, 10/2 Grow devotions, weekly bulletins, and it is used every Sunday as part of our worship service.

The other week the power cord stopped functioning and I really struggled with getting things done. Once a replacement came in the mail I was back in business, and – it may have been just my imagination – but the laptop seemed to operate faster. I was thrilled to have this good thing made new.

The author of the letter to Ephesians makes a comment about who we are. Who made us? How were we created? What are we to do?

There is no doubt that we are a creation of God. He has made us, caused us to come into being, and given us life. He knows our innermost being and our every thought.

But we as mortals are flawed. We have a tendency toward sinfulness and selfishness. We can often fail to be the holy people we are meant to be. But this comment in Ephesians can give us a new hope.

God created heaven and earth. He created us. But he also re-created us through Jesus Christ. We are made into new people. Through Jesus Christ we are redeemed from our sinful nature and purified. We become the good and holy people God intended from the beginning.

And God has made us to do good works in life. He has made us to share love and mercy in the world. He has created us that we might be living representatives of His grace and care.

Through our rebirth through Jesus Christ we are moved closer to the perfect beings God designed us to be. Through the grace and salvation of Jesus we are new people ready to do the holy work God has planned for us. We are re-made as God’s beautiful creations.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can remind you of your new life?