Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
How does God demonstrate His workmanship? If you're having difficulty
coming up with an answer, think for a moment of what you were like before
becoming a Christian! Yes, the believer is God's work of art... Have you
ever considered yourself a masterpiece before? Well dear lady, you are
- and hopefully others can see God's creative workmanship operating in
your life! You see, our salvation is something only God can do, amen?
It is His powerful, creative work in us through Jesus Christ. Therefore,
if God considers us His works of art, we dare not speak of ourselves or
other believers with disrespect or as inferior work. To do so would to
be to insult His Son!
Philip. 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure."
We become Christians through God's unmerited grace, not as the result
of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part.
In other words, we are not our own creative piece of art, amen? Nothing
we could produce would make us fit for heaven. Works are the consequences
of salvation, not the causes of salvation... Simply put, they are the
results of the work of God in our hearts. You've got to be created in
Christ Jesus before you can walk in Christ Jesus! Out of gratitude for
God's perfect workmanship in our lives, we will seek to help and serve
others with kindness, charity, and goodness, etc. and not merely to please
ourselves!
Ladies, the Lord's intention is that our salvation will result in good
works of service, in contrast with works of darkness. When those good
works start flowing in and through you, don't lose sight of their beginning!
Your works are not good because YOU are good, but because at salvation
you received a new nature from God - the workmanship of HIS Spirit in
you. Such marvelous, miraculous changes brought about in your life are
testimonies to the lost around you. The question is, as a Christian, are
you resisting the creative work of God upon your life?? Or are you allowing
God's Spirit to work in and through you so that your life might exhibit
the glorious handywork of God?
Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth
his handywork."
The Bible says God demonstrates His craftsmanship in creation. Fall is
an especially beautiful time of year... No matter the season, we are always
surrounded by fantastic displays of God's handywork - the heavens give
dramatic evidence of His existence, His power, His love, His care. To
say that the universe happened by chance is absurd! Its design, intricacy,
and orderliness point to a personally involved Creator... Is there any
reason your life can't do the same?? The next time someone commends you
for a positive change in your attitude or a new behavior you've never
before exhibited, why not declare with your lips that it is the handywork
of God within you!
Psalm 139:14, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
Ladies, do you know "right well" that it is God who deserves the credit
for any good others might see come about in you? I know of many boastful,
prideful Christians who puff themselves up and think they are quite marvelous
for their spiritual abilities and accomplishments. Sad to say, they have
forgotten what condition they were in before the Lord saved their soul!
They stand in awe of themselves rather than the One who made them... You
see, GOD'S character goes into the creation of every believer. His personal
attention and awesome skill was applied to your soul at salvation! What
an inspiring thought, amen? If you are ever tempted to feel worthless
or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God's Spirit is ready and
willing to work within you! We must respect our Maker and His workmanship,
amen?
Jeremiah 18:6, "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?
saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye
in mine hand, O house of Israel."
In shaping our lives, God demonstrates His workmanship. As the potter
molded or shaped a clay pot on the potter's wheel, defects often appeared.
Defects will appear in you and I as time goes on... The Bible says the
potter had power over the clay, to permit the defects to remain or to
reshape the pot. God had power to reshape the nation of Israel to conform
to HIS purposes. Likewise, the hand of the Lord applies pressure upon
each of His children to conform us to the shape
He prefers our individual lives to take - that of a valuable vessel. Ladies,
God's hand is a support and a guide - we can always trust it! Our strategy
should be to be willing and receptive to God's impact upon us! Lost people
need to see the effect of His quickening power and ability to produce
awesome changes - only in Christ Jesus! Allow the demonstration of His
workmanship to take place, won't you?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
