"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
—Ephesians 2:10
There was a president at a very prominent U.S. university several years ago who spoke about his personal faith at a graduation ceremony. He said, “Ever since the day I received Christ, the rest of my life has been a P.S. to say, ‘Thank you Lord, for saving me.’ ”
As we think about the role of works in our lives, I see many who fall into the wrong thinking that to be saved, they have to do their part, and God has to do His. The problem with this line of thinking is that the Bible tells us there are no good works we can do that will earn us salvation (Eph. 2:8).
So what is the role of works in our lives? Are we allowed to simply live however we want and abuse the grace of God? Certainly not! We’re told by the apostle Paul in today’s verse that good works are a product of our salvation. Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone!
Because of our salvation, God has given us the amazing title of His workmanship… those who are created to do good works. So as you live a life of faith, let your works be evidence of the new life within you!
IN CHRIST, YOU ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP. LIVE A LIFE OF GOOD WORKS BECAUSE OF THE FAITH THAT’S SAVED YOU!
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”
Joshua 14:10–11
When Moses sent twelve spies into the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report. The other ten discouraged the people so much that they refused to obey God and claim the victory He promised to provide. When the Israelites finally entered the land, Caleb was not only still part of the army fighting the enemies, but he was a leader. He came to Joshua and requested that he be allowed to take the mountain he had claimed more than four decades earlier. Even in his later years, Caleb wanted to do great things for God.
Our culture has a “coasting” mindset—that we work for a while and then relax. While retirement from employment is not wrong, retirement from God’s service is not an option for the committed Christian. Instead, we need to view our life and our resources as His to use as He sees fit. We also need to realize that time is short. None of us knows how long we have to serve God, but what we do for Him must be done while there is still time. The great missionary pioneer Robert Moffatt said, “We’ll have all eternity to celebrate the victories won for Christ, but only one short hour before sunset to win them.” Life is given to us not to be wasted on coasting but to be invested in eternal things.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Use today wisely for the Lord’s work—it is the only day you know for sure you have to do His will.
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