(Read Ephesians 2)
There are some folks in your life that, for whatever reason, you’re slower to engage with than others. It’s like dipping your toes in the water before you dive in. One such guy from our Life Group is the perfect example. (J) will probably laugh at this remark, but initially, he intimidated me a bit. He’s direct in his interactions with family, friends, and strangers. You know what’s on his mind without guessing. In many ways, he reminds me of my father. Black, no cream or sugar.
He is quiet until he’s not. He is incredibly thoughtful and thinks through what he will say well before it comes out. Unlike me, (J) never blurts out a random thought. “I grew up in a Catholic home,” he began, “did Catechism, was an altar boy, and went to church because my parents did. I remember reading Revelation when I was a boy, which frightened me. As I got older, I realized I didn’t want my children to go through that.” The book of Revelation in Spanish is translated as el Libro del Apocalipsis – about the Apocolypse. Imagine what apocalyptic visions would look like for a young child with no context.
(J) is a warm, loving, and giving man. He’s authentic and highly well-spoken, not bad, considering English is his second language. He grew up in an impoverished ghetto in Puerto Rico. “I had a very poor childhood, but not a bad one. Until I was older, we didn’t even have a toilet in our house.” (J) shared his personal story with me with sincere honesty. “I have always known of God but not of His grace. I’m a sinful man saved by grace.” As with most of us, he had to learn what grace means through experience, not by reading about it. “I did lots of sinful things as a young man and was almost arrested a few times.”
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
Psalm 19:1
God is the ultimate artist. Greater than Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Michaelangelo, and even Justin Bieber. When you see the purple, pink, orange, and blue hues of a breathtaking sunset at the end of the day or the beauty of snow-capped mountains that tower for miles, there is no question about the level of perfection of this true artist. As the Psalmist pointed out, the workmanship of God’s creations shout out day after day and night after night, but as majestic as they are, His greatest works are us.
“I joined the Army as a young man, and in 1984, while we were stationed in Egypt, some religious friends invited me to a Bible study.” I saw the disappointment in (J)’s face describing the experience. He said they were speaking in lofty, absolute, condemning words. “They said the father’s sins would last for four generations. I figured God was a mean, punishing God. This turned me off. What I heard was uncomfortable and upsetting. I didn’t want to follow a God where my kids would be punished for my sins.”
While in Egypt, (J) also got to experience an actual mountaintop experience at Mt. Sinai. Perched 7,497 feet above sea level, Mt. Sinai, also known as Jabal Musa, is a landmark featured in Biblical history. “Some friends and I hiked to the top of the mountain with three full coolers of beer. Then, it hit me. I’m in a Holy place… You can’t drink and carry on here. I felt God saying, ‘Come to me.’ So we hiked back down the mountain with those same three full coolers of beer.”
Not long after this, (J) gave it a shot with another Bible group. I’m not sure exactly when his Christian character was revealed, but this group may have been another rung in the ladder toward where he is now. “I’ve been told that there’s something special, something different about me. It’s easy for me to talk with non-believers because I was one of them. I know how the world functions.”
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
People often miss out on the deeper meaning of this passage when seeking to grasp God’s salvation by grace through faith. In his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul offers tremendous insight into God’s desires for us after salvation. From the Greek word poiēma, God calls us His workmanship. He has a unique path and purpose for each of us, so just like (J), we should be equally sincere in our walk of faith. We need to search for our place in God’s plan and live a life that glorifies Him through our good works.
Most Christians I know believe salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not by earning it through good works. Ephesians 2:10 should be seen as the result of our new identity in Christ, that we naturally want to do good because we are saved — not to be saved. Good works are not a way to earn salvation. We are created for good works, not to earn God’s favor through them.
“My true awakening happened many years after Mt. Sinai. Our daughter had been going to a local Baptist church for most of her life, but we didn’t. While I was on deployment, my wife nearly died from a mysterious illness. She saw an angel or something and made a commitment to God that ensured our younger son knew the person of Jesus Christ.” (J) wouldn’t accept this commitment for his wife alone, so he made it a family commitment. The whole family would come to see God’s workmanship created in Christ.
“Initially, I was going to church because my wife promised God. In our early years there, when the sermons would go a little long, I couldn’t wait for them to end so I could go and play golf.” Jesus had bigger plans for him. “One Sunday in the Sanctuary, I prayed about accepting Christ and got chills and goosebumps just thinking about it. It changed the way I saw things.” Smiling, he added, “I’m still a work in progress.”
He’s been around many places, religions, and cultures on this blue marble. So [J] has a perspective I don’t. “People sometimes get upset if you use Jesus’ name in their presence. It’s blasphemy to some religions and cultures. It offends them.” Getting serious, speaking from experience, he said, Christ is the only difference between Christians and all other religions.”
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13-15
In Philippians, Paul is calling for a positive attitude in our actions. This verse speaks about the result of living according to God’s will. With the right attitude, we become blameless, pure, and a light for others in a world that doesn’t reflect God’s goodness. The Greek word in this passage means to work out, to continually work to completion. Our identity in Christ is ever-changing. It’s up to us to keep moving, to shine His glory, and to work toward the molded clay He created.
“I’m a sinner saved by grace. What this Grace means to me is that God has allowed me to know Christ. He’s faithful beyond what I deserve, not because of anything I’ve done.” (J) pointed out a critical thing he learned in his walk with Christ is never to test God. He then described a powerful example of how trust through faith in God led to a much better finish than testing God would have.
“We have a family van for our son to have easier access in and out of the vehicle. Our daughter got into a wreck and crashed it. A man from church showed up and told us the church wanted to help. I said no. He replied, you’re not going to stop us from helping you.” What a beautiful example of God’s living grace, I thought. “The man kept saying (J) where’s your new van? So, the church gave us some money, and we contributed more, but we couldn’t afford anything close to what we were looking for. Then, we saw an ad for the van we had been dreaming about. We talked with the seller, who was a Christian.” Getting visibly choked up, (J) continued, “The seller said, ‘Let’s get it appraised, and I’ll sell it to you for whatever it’s worth.’ It was valued at $100 less than what we had.”
In our conversation this week, everything we discussed weaved perfectly into the next topic. When we discussed God’s plan, His glory, and our salvation, (J) replied, “I use any opportunity to give God glory and to pray. My number one rule when I coached youth soccer was to ALWAYS pray before each game. No exceptions. They even threatened to fire me. I told all the parents that I’m a believer. I will treat your children as one of mine. I told my kids that prayer doesn’t have to be complicated; you talk to God because you need Him.”
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
More inspiring than (J)’s good works for his family, friends, community, and church is the spirit behind them. His life is evidence of being crafted by God and defined by Christ. “I walk with God and talk with Him all the time. There was a non-believer I spoke with once who gave me an opening for a conversation about Jesus. When I asked her how she was doing, she said, ‘I’m blessed more than I deserve.’ ‘Me too,’ I said, ‘Me too.’” It’s a phrase (J) opens with every time he greets anyone.
Key Application:
- We are God’s creation, not accidents. Reflect on your unique talents and abilities. How can you use them to glorify God?
- Created in Christ Jesus signifies the importance of faith in living out this purpose. Our good works flow from our relationship with Christ. Show them abundantly.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.