DEVOTION - Day 9

Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This verse from Paul to the church in Ephesus is a message that transcends the years and should speak to us all in a number of different ways. In fact, there are three very specific and encouraging ways that I see here that I’m sure ministered to the Ephesians. As we seek to understand God’s plan for our lives, I believe that we can find some clear instruction right here today.

The first piece of this puzzle is that Paul says that we are “God’s handiwork.” Have you ever created something with your own two hands? Have you ever made something, written a paper or a poem, or built a piece of furniture and stood back and admired its beauty? Or even look at what it was you created and imagine the possibilities that could happen because of its purpose? God looks at us the same way. He considers us perfectly beautiful and made for an amazing purpose.

Picture it, the God of the universe created YOU. On purpose. You are not an accident and your life has a distinct purpose. Imagine the fact that He needed to create someone and He could have created anyone; and He chose to make YOU. Sometimes we float through life and wonder if we will ever make a difference and maybe question why we are here. Find hope in the fact that God created you and you have a purpose.

Well, the second thing I notice is that we were created to do “good works.” This is something we’ve been discussing for the last few days in this blog. Good works can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But, here, I believe Paul is telling us that we have been made to do all the things that the Bible tells us we should do – serve others, bless others, pray for others, etc. etc.

This is what we are created to do. To do good works. Often we try to make it more complicated than it needs to be. We question why we are here and what we are supposed to do. Here it is in black and white. We are here to do good works – and a big portion of that is to be selfless individuals who love others and looks for opportunities to serve them.

Finally, we read that all of this was planned “in advance.” In advance of what? Psalms 139 says that “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” This says to me that our lives were pre-meditated. A person doesn’t knit something together without having a plan first, and so it is with God. Our lives were planned in advance of our birth. There are no mistakes and there is no one born (or even conceived) without a specific plan from the all-mighty God.

For me, I get in the routine too often. I go through the motions too often. Instead of living with a higher purpose mentality, I live day to day with my own needs and wants in the forefront of my mind. This Scripture reminds me that I have a purpose. No day should pass without me moving closer to God and His purpose and will for my life.

Today, thank God for creating you. Thank Him and praise Him that He made you for a purpose and that He chose you. Pray that His purpose will be fulfilled in your life and that you will do the good works that He’s placed you here to do. Lastly, ask that His purpose will be constantly on your mind and that He will give you the resolve to live it out each and every day, no matter your circumstances.