Created for Greatness, Ephesians 2
This is day two, and I want you to be amazed that your destiny has been prepared for you before the world was even created. You are a one of a kind creation of our heavenly Father's goodness, creativity and love. You are the living church of Jesus Christ!
Ephesians 2
S= Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” 2:15 “…so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,”
O= The Greek word for workmanship is poiema. We get our word poem from this word. It is the word that is used to describe what an artist creates. Verse 15 tells us that God created in Himself a new creation from the chosen of Israel and from the Gentiles. The Greek word for new means something that didn’t exist before. It refers to form and substance not new in time. This creation is by a God who loved us “greatly” (vs.4), even when we wanted nothing to do with Him (vss.2-3). In Christ we became a new entity, that God had already given a specific destiny even before we knew Him. We were not only destined for good works but since we were created by a craftsman we were actually designed to produce these good works! God saw good in us through Christ and instilled into our destiny an ability to fulfill His plans through us! We have, in fact, become the “good work”. We are like a beautiful hand crafted building(church), whose architect is God the Father. Christ has become our cornerstone, the model from which all of us have been made, and we are an entire building that represents the Father in all His beauty, wonder, goodness and glory. We should be like a “Wonder of the World” or a “Wonder of God”!
A= If I have been created for these good works then God has put everything I need to do them in me. I am a new creation under the blessing and power of the old and the new covenants. I have a relationship with God that Abraham had as “the friend of God” and that Jesus had as “the beloved son of God.” Together with my brothers and sisters in Christ I represent the Heavenly Father. I reflect His glory and need to embrace all the other parts of this beautiful temple (the church), that represents God. I am capable of the works of God and should be offering myself to others so that they can meet and see my God!
P= Father, today make me mindful again of just who I am. Help me to remember that I reflect you. Help me to operate in the “good works” that you have designed me for. Thank you for your mercy that forgave me, your grace that saved me and your love that sustains me!
P.S. Happy Independence Day! FREEDOM!!! Enjoy the day with your family and launch a few fireworks for me.
This chapter has so much information that can benefit a Christian's life. Paul is telling us that it is by Grace that we are saved, not by our good works, or by our good deeds, it's ONLY by the Grace of God. It's easy for "good" Christians to fall into a "religious" state, and focus on good deeds and hard works. Often times, those Christians get discouraged because it's NOT about the hard work.... I don't HAVE to- anything for God to love me more, or to be saved. I'd rather look at it as.... I GET to serve my almighty God. This takes away the burden of having to do this and that. Learning to receive God's grace freely can be difficult for some people. Our father in heaven loves us unconditionally. Here are some verses that speak volumes to me and it's always good for me to remind myself of this truth! 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithÂand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The other verses that really stood out for me where 19 - 22. Paul talks about how we are in the "in" crowd. We belong to the family, in fact our body has become the very dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Not only does God want to fellowship with us, HE desires to be part of our lives. Whatprivilegedge for God almighty to abide in my dwelling! 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Posted by
testingitgabylynn |
9:54 AM
Happy 4th of July! I am thankful that God's gift of salvation is FREE! Now that's a reason to celebrate FREEDOM. I love the way the chapter talks about how we all come to Jesus by the same spirit and that we are united by that spirit. I am thankful that Christ Jesus is our cornerstone and that we, the church, are the temple where the spirit of Christ lives.
Pam <><
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:56 PM
As my husband Joe and I read Eph 2 aloud, I was moved by v 19 that clearly states: YOU BELONG! Wow! God is passionately signing us up for His team. We are part of the IN crowd: v 13 " IN CHRIST JESUS" and 'THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR." What a joy to know that He really means it; these are not slogans or ploys but the genuine cry of the Father's heart being made accessible through CHRIST JESUS. Also, because we BELONG TO GOD'S OWN HOUSEHOLD, He sees to it that "IN HIM" we (with others) are v22 BEING BUILT UP. Such marvelous expectations, such plans He has. How good it is "TO BELONG".
Denise Scaglione
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:09 PM
Hey Beloved of God! What stuck out for me was vs12 I have boldness and confident access though faith in Him. and vs.17 That Christ may dwell in my heart through faith, and that I may be rooted and grounded in love. Lisa M.
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:37 PM
from the message bible . . .
"He's using us all--irrespective of how we got here--in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundations. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day--a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home."
pretty cool
jodi yale
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:28 PM