TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
Listen: Ephesians 2
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The Apostle Paul has hammered home two points—they were dead and God has brought them to life. Now he turns to a third. He starts by reminding them they are God’s handiwork. Handiwork is a word that describes an artistic masterpiece like a Roman sculpture, a beautiful mosaic or a carefully crafted painting. God is crafting them into a masterpiece—people who do good works. Paul made it clear they can’t earn their salvation through their works, but good works are what they’re made for. The three reminders fit together. Paul reminds them they were dead, God brought them to life and that life is what God created them for. God saved them to live the way they were designed to live in the first place.
Paul’s words here can radically change the way we view ourselves. First, this passage provides a strong foundation for our identity. God loves us, saves us and he’s crafting us into masterpieces. That’s something no one can take away from us. Second, we gain a proper understanding of the role of works or good action in our lives. We see that our salvation is not something we have to earn or maintain by doing good works. God isn’t keeping some kind of cosmic ledger sheet that he’s going to use when we die to see whether we were good enough. Instead, we discover we actually were created for good works. That’s why God put us on earth. That’s our original purpose. We are here to love God and to love those around us. To do the right thing and make the world a better place. What an awesome thing to learn!
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Memorize Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Write it on a notecard or sticky note and put it somewhere you’ll see it often. Add it to your phone as a lock screen. As you read it, ask God to help you remember the two elements of the verse—that you’re God’s handiwork and that your real purpose is to do the right thing.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
February is SABBATH. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
