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
One of the former presidents of Princeton University once said, referring to the time when he personally received Christ, "Since that glorious day, every day of my life has been a 'P.S.' to say 'Thank You, Lord, for what You have accomplished in my life!'" What a wonderful way to look at our works, as our P.S. to God's already-written letter of salvation in our lives.
Now the word workmanship in today's passage is the Greek word poiema. We get our word poem from that same word. We are God’s poem... God’s masterpiece! And God has a blueprint for the masterpiece of every believer for the works He has laid out for him or her.
Through the lives of believers, God wants the world to know that He’s a God of love, grace, and power. And the watching world will know that, as they see His blueprints behind every single good work we do.
In Christ, you are God's workmanship. So live each and every day with confidence that He has uniquely formed you to do His will on earth. And as you live out those good works, the world will take notice of your Savior!
IN CHRIST, YOU ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP CREATED TO DO GOOD WORKS. SO LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH AND LET THE WORLD SEE YOU AS A MASTERPIECE OF THE SAVIOR!
Abundant Mercy
Thursday, February 20, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”
Deuteronomy 4:29–31
Before Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses spent time with them reviewing what God had already done and rehearsing His commands for the future. Moses clearly warned them of the high consequences of disobedience. God would not then and will not now allow His people to sin without being chastened. Of course with His perfect knowledge, God was already well aware that the Israelites would not keep their commitment to Him. And in that knowledge, God also instructed Moses to provide words of hope—so that when the chastening did come, the people would remember that they could still return to God and He would receive them.
There are times in our lives when we endure difficulty because of the actions of others or simply as a byproduct of living in a fallen world. And there are times when what we are going through is a direct result of our disobedience to God. Even in those moments when we “have it coming” we are not abandoned or alone. God does not chasten us out of a desire to inflict pain, but rather from a loving Father’s concern to change our hearts. When we turn back to God and cry out to Him for forgiveness, we will not be turned away. God does not hold our sins against us, having freely forgiven us through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Today's Growth Principle:
God’s mercy provides us a way back to His heart when we have gone astray from Him.
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