"God's Glory" Photograph ©2010-2012 Masterwks
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, NIV.
Here we sit, God’s handiwork, saved by grace. There’s nothing more beautiful, more amazing than that. And there was nothing we could do to deserve it. And yet we are not just simply saved, end of story. We have been saved for a purpose. There is still work to do.
I have struggled, often, trying to identify what work God could have possibly prepared for me. I have asked, “Why am I here? What is my purpose? How could I possibly make any difference at all?” These are big questions. They are questions God is pleased to answer. Sometimes the answer seems small, “You are here to nurture your husband and three children.” Sometimes the answer seems so big it immediately moves me out of my comfort zone, “You are here to write to encourage others.”
Are you struggling to identify the good work God has prepared for you to do? First, ask Him. After that, there are two great books that immediately come to mind, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and Live Like You Mean It by T.J. Addington. Both books helped me identify my purpose. I also took a class offered by my church which helped me identify my spiritual gifts and taught me how to use those gifts within my given purpose.
Once we’ve identified the good works we are to do, that is when God’s grace becomes our grateful action.
The action does not make me any more valuable. What makes me valuable is the One who created me. The fact that I am His handiwork, His art, His work in progress is what gives me value. He saw that value while I was sinning, having turned my face from Him, and saved me even while I wasn’t looking.
No, the action that takes place, the good works that I do, the ones God created in advance for me to do, those only bring more glory to Him.
He created me. He created the work. He receives the glory for both.
Everything always, always points back to the Creator. That I exist at all is to the glory of God. That He chose to save me from sin and death is to His glory. When I step out in faith and do the good works He has created for me to do He is glorified all the more. This is how it is meant to be. At the very core we all have the same purpose, to glorify the Creator.
Father in Heaven, thank you for your amazing grace. Thank you for finding value in me, even though I was still lost in sin, and rescuing me from death. Thank you for the wonderful new life you have given me through Jesus. Father, I pray that I would do the work you have created me to do and that I would do it well and that You would be greatly glorified by it. I pray that as I do these things you have prepared that I would remember to do them wholeheartedly, serving and caring for others as though I was serving and caring for You. Thank You for the gift of good works. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Jennifer Dawn McLucas is dedicated to encouraging women of all ages to believe in happy endings by finding their hope in the promise of God’s Word. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her prince of a husband and three wonderful children. Glory to God was written as part of a series, you can find the rest of her Ephesians series on her blog, jenniferdawnmclucas.com. Jennifer would also love to have you visit her on Facebook.
Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing that. God bless!