FOR WE ARE GOD'S HANDIWORK

THURSDAY 13 JANUARY 2022

God attaches great importance and special regard to our calling in Christ. Through the revealed in today's Scripture reference, God will grant us insight into the mystery of good works prepared for us in advance in Christ Jesus. Our heavenly Father always wants us to grow up spiritually and come to a place of maturity in Christ. And one of the tools He uses as a vehicle to achieve this purpose in us is "good works." Let's find out more!

Reference: Ephesians 2:10 New International Version (NIV) "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

When I think of the truth that I am God's handiwork, not the devil's, it inspires me to cherish my salvation in Christ Jesus. Any Christian can feel goose pimples just by reading and digesting this Scripture. You can't but embrace and celebrate this truth because its a divine guarantee of a planned life in advance. From the start to finish, this is one of the great acts of God's kindness shown to us in Christ.

Earlier verses noted that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV). Interestingly, He did all these wonderful things for us without asking for our support and opinion! And its a great news that as God's handiwork, we are made and invented anew in Christ to showcase His artistry in every generation. The Bible says, "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).

Our good works prepared in advance follow our salvation and new life. When we receive Christ as Lord, we become empowered by the Spirit of God to accomplish the good works and righteous deeds, which provoke untold blessing upon our lives. These good works are the practical expressions of our Christian faith that establish our perfection in Christ. Few of them are first, the Great Commission (Matthew 16:18-20), which entails the work of evangelism. Second, our Christian service and commitment in the house of God accomplished to a large extent, through the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV).

Third, our kingly and priestly ministry signifies part of the good works prepared for us in advance in Christ. This is the reason we are addressed as "Royal Priesthood", according to 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV). In fact, the Bible says, "He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen" (NLT). One of our main duties as priests is to intercede for others and obtain mercy and answers for them from the throne of grace. Fourth, the good work of benevolence which we demonstrate in form of almsgiving or charity (see Isaiah 58:10; Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 11:41; Acts 10:31; Galatians 2:10; 1 John 3:17).

These good works in Christ are designed to help develop our faith and facilitate the growth and maturity of each one of us as a Christian, thereby ensuring, exposing and utilising our great potentials in the Kingdom of light. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Titus 2:7; 1 Timothy 6:17-18; Titus 3:8,14; James 3:13; 1 John 2:17.

Guided Prayer: Thank you Father in heaven for creating and positioning me in Christ and for depositing in me, the seed of good works which you have prepared for me in advance for my benefit. As your workmanship, I'm constantly led by the Spirit to live a productive Christian life through my righteous acts and deeds, which are done with a great frame of mind. By promoting the works of the Kingdom, I grow daily to develop the golden qualities that reflect your character in my life, to your glory, in Jesus' Name, Amen!