April 28th | God's Work, Not Mine

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

GOD’S WORK, NOT MINE

Ephesians 2:10 “For (you) are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for (you) to do.” 

Do you remember someone saying to you that their son or daughter is an “oops,” or “accident.” Oh, yes, they love this child, but what they are saying is it was not planned, prayed for or at the moment of conception desired by its mother and father. 

Today’s devotional verses say “you are God’s handiwork.” (NIV) The Greek to English dictionary translates this Greek word with a phrase instead of just one word such as “handiwork” (NIV), “workmanship” (ESV), or “masterpiece” (New Living Translation). The phrase suggested by the Greek to English lexicon is “what He has made.” (Louw-Nida)  

God created you! You are not an “oops” or “accident.” God created you, placed you on earth, gave you faith in His Son Jesus, for the purpose of doing good works. In God’s sight a good work is anything that you do as a result of your faith in Jesus Christ, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in order to give honor, praise and thanksgiving to your heavenly Father.   

Even before your parents were created, or you were conceived, God prepared good works for you to do. Psalm 138:8 says, “The LORD (YAHWEH) will work out His plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” Yes, Yahweh works out His plans for your life. Not only are you not an “oops” or “accident,” but God created you with His purpose for your life in mind. 

So much, then for the self-made man or woman that you might think you are. So much for “luck” having anything to do with the success you have had in your life. So much for giving credit to the university or high school you graduated from putting you on the life course you have walked. It is God, who already in eternity, before you were ever conceived or born, who planned your life for you. To Him be the honor and the glory forever and ever.   

Prayer: Yahweh, creator of the universe and of me, reveal your plans for me through Your Holy Spirit that all I am and do redounds to your honor and glory for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

Take my life and let it be  Consecrated, Lord to Thee;  Take my moments and my days,  Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 

Take my hands and let them move   At the impulse of Thy love;  Take my feet and let them be   Swift and beautiful for Thee. 

Take my voice and let me sing  Always, only for my King;  Take my lips and let them be  Filled with messages from Thee. 

Take my silver and my gold,   Not a mite would I withhold;  Take my intellect and use  Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose. 

Take my will and make it Thine,  It shall be no longer mine;  Take my heart, it is Thine own,  It shall be Thy royal throne. 

Take my love, my Lord, I pour  At Thy feet its treasure store;  Take myself, and I will be  Ever, only, all for Thee.  (LSB 783)