Ephesians 2:10

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

This verse is reminiscent of Isaiah 64:8 where the prophet depicts God’s people as clay and He as the potter and we as the work of His hand.  When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we become a new creation, but it does not stop there. God has a plan for our lives, and part of that plan is good works.  The amazing thing is that these good works do not depend on our own energy or strength. Philippians 2:13 tells us that it is God who gives us both the desire to do good works and the ability to do them. All that is required of us is to be available when the time comes to do the good work that He has planned for us.

Consider the picture of painting a house.  The entire process is very laborious and more work is spent in preparation than in the painting. Imagine if you could skip all the preparation work and just show up and paint. Yes, this is still work but all the hard tasks have been completed. This is what God has in mind for each of our ministries. He has already laid and worked out the necessary foundations and our labor builds on what He has already prepared.  Lord, may we each answer Your calling and be available for the works that You have prepared for us, bearing much fruit for Your kingdom.

Pastor Jeff Mericle