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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

 

Good morning dear sister!

Are you ready for the works that God has prepared for you today? Hmm… let me rephrase that. Are you aware that God has already planned your day and will help you to walk in His way if you look to Him?

Usually we testify about God working in us after the fact, but this Scripture is being worked out in my life in real time, right now! I hope you will see how God is working out His plan in your everyday life as I share what I'm learning as events unfold in my life. 

The Scripture above lays out four simple, but life changing facts! 

First, we are His workmanship! What does that mean? According to Merriam-Webster, “Workmanship is the skill, art, or technique displayed by a worker or artisan, as well as the overall quality, execution, or finish of a completed product or structure.” 

Did you ever wonder how the sun, moon and stars maintain their predictable path? Or how each creature on earth and in the sea knows how to make its own dwelling place? How tiny hummingbirds have the capability to migrate thousands of miles and return to the same location? And why are there so many flowers, trees and edible plants?

These are God’s workmanship! Spoken by His Word into existence from nothing! He has endowed all creation not only with the ability to survive, but to actively participate in an intertwined ecosystem that benefits all life on earth! (Genesis 1:1-25) That’s amazing workmanship!

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26) 

God made people special, higher than the plants and animals. He has made us in His own Image and by His own hand! Everything created prior to humankind was spoken into existence, but God created Adam and Eve with His own hands, and made them in the image of Himself! Perfect workmanship!

The physical birth of a human is indeed a miracle, but we also consider it a natural process. Just as all of nature has been brought into being by God, new humans, created in the womb of the mother, are fashioned by the hand of God who knows them even before they are conceived! “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” (Jeremiah 1:5) We were God’s workmanship even when we were microscopic cells!

The second line of the Scripture says that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. When a person is born again, they move from a place of spiritual death, bound by sin and human limitations into a glorious, living relationship with Jesus Christ! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! The old has passed away, and the new has come!” (2 Cor 5:17) 

In spiritual rebirth, we are made new in Christ and are meant for good works. The work that God has ordained for us can’t be accomplished by our old nature. We must be born of the Spirit to succeed in the spiritual work of God. 

His good works are born of His Spirit, not our flesh. This is God’s workmanship in us! “ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20) 

Third, the Scripture reminds us that God has already prepared the work He has for us! It is important to remember that carrying out God’s plan, rather than our own plan, is what is pleasing to Him! He has equipped us, by the power of His Holy Spirit to accomplish every task that He has especially prepared for us!

The fourth line of the Scripture gives us the confidence we need that we can indeed walk in all that the Lord has created and prepared. To ‘walk’ is a metaphor often used in the Bible to describe our relationship with God. When we are born again, our conduct of behavior and lifestyle become more God focused, rather than self focused, as we mature in our relationship with our Abba. 

Apart from Him, it is easy to be absorbed in the busyness of our own days. We have families to care for, jobs to keep, church meetings to go to and other social things that we enjoy, but we still need to prioritize time to pray and look for those good works that God has prepared for us! Be on the lookout and recognize the opportunities when they come along! 

God has made us according to His unique purpose for each of us! He has already planned the work, prepared our day, equipped us spiritually and ordained us to walk in His ways! We cannot fail! 

So let’s be brave and ask God what He has prepared for us today! Even if we think we can’t possibly squeeze one more thing into our day, if we make His priorities our priorities, we will find that it all works out somehow when we surrender our time to dwell in His time. We can trust His schedule because He has already prepared the way! What a mighty God we serve! 

Keep loving Jesus and moving forward with Him, my dear sister!

With love, your sister, Celeste