“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)
My brain hurts a little from this huge idea. Not only can my good works NOT save me – or even help save me a little – I am God’s “good work.” We are his “works of art,” made by his own hands. You can almost picture each of us hung on a gallery wall and signed, “God.” Our existence is evidence of the artist’s greatness.
But here’s the kick in the pants: God doesn’t hang us on a wall or stick us in a frame. Instead, we are works of art designed to create brand new “good works.” Its like a pyramid of creativity that starts with God and extends out generation after generation after generation. He intentionally left blank spots in human history for each of us to fill in with our good works which he “prepared in advance for us to do.”
What a concept! What a gift to be asked to join the ultimate artist in his this masterwork of goodness he is creating through his adopted sons and daughters moment by moment until the work is completed.
Think: What good works do you think God prepared in advance for you to do? How will you use your God-given creativity to contribute to your little piece of the canvas?
Pray: Thank God for preparing some good work for you to do; ask him to help you discover what that is.
Do: Make a list of some of your favorite works of art – paintings, poems, movies, etc. How does the art reflect the artist? How does your existence reflect your Creator?