Your Identity In Christ: Day 5 - Pastor Paul Looney
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“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 (NKJV)
In brokenness, we may often view ourselves as failures, but God takes the broken pieces of our lives and makes something beautiful! As Ethel Waters, a former singer on the Billy Graham team, once said, “I am somebody cause God don't make no junk!” It’s all a work of grace! In Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV), the Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Then, with our new identity in Christ, there’s more! Much more! The next verse says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
I love the way the New Living Translation translates that verse. It says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Let that sink in! You are God’s masterpiece! He recreated you in Christ Jesus so you could do the good things He has planned for you!
The Greek word translated “workmanship” or “masterpiece” is poiema, from which we get our English word “poem.” It means “that which is a manufactured product.” In other words, our conversion is not the end; it is the beginning. We are a part of God’s new creation. He continues to work in us to make us what He wants us to be in Christ, so He may accomplish His work through us.
Each of us is uniquely designed to do good works which God prepared for us to do. That means you are the perfect man to do what God has designed you to do. You are handcrafted with a distinct purpose in mind, so you are fully equipped to do those things. It is folly for us to question how God designed us. He knows us fully and knows what He's doing, even if it does not make sense at the beginning.
How does God work in us to create us into His masterpiece? He uses His Holy Spirit and His Word! Jesus finished His work of redemption on the cross. Now risen from the dead, He comes by the power of the Holy Spirit to indwell our lives and conform us to His image. His Spirit guides us into all truth through His Word, the Bible. Then, He equips and enables us to do His will here on earth.
Rejoice, child of God! You are His masterpiece! Align your life with His will and let Him complete the work He has begun! He has good work for you to do now! As He does His deeper work in you, He will perform His greater work through you! Oswald Chambers put it like this, “The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him.”
I love the way the Amplified Bible explains it in Philippians 1:6 when it says, “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.