You Are His Workmanship

March 20, 2021

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:8-10

Everything you have and everything you are is a gift from God – your family, your intellect, your money, your work, your personality, etc. As Psalm 139 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-14). You are God’s idea, and you are the work of his hands. Everything about you is designed by the perfect Creator.

Not only are you designed by this perfect Creator, but you are redeemed by him. Though you are created in the image of God, you were also born into the fallen nature of sin. That is the bad news. The good news is that you have been saved from that fallen nature. Paul reiterates all throughout his letter that you are saved by the grace of God, not saved by anything you have done or will do. Salvation from sin comes from God alone.

What humbling words those are for people who like to earn and achieve! Paul goes on to say that this salvation is a gift from God so that no one can boast. This is humbling but also liberating. There are no expectations of us making our own way to God or being just good enough that he would love us. Instead, his salvation and his love are a gift. Gifts are undeserved, and they must be received with gratitude.

That gratitude propels us to live faithfully with the Lord and for the Lord. When God designed us, he had a specific plan just for us. Every aspect of our being fits together to lead us into that plan or calling for our lives. As we fulfill these good works, we bring glory to God. People see him as we lead, work, serve, and love others. In these words, Paul reminds us that we are his workmanship. The New Living Translation of these verses say that we are his masterpiece.

God delights in his workmanship, his masterpiece. He loves what he has made us to be, and he longs for us to fully embrace what he has made us to do. There is no cookie cutter calling. Some are called to serve him as executives of companies; some are called to serve him as missionaries overseas. Some are called to teach our children in secular schools; some are called to serve as Christian Education Directors in churches. Every child of God has a calling, and every calling is just as important to the building and well-being of the kingdom of God.

Are you living in the fullness of God’s grace? Are you receiving all that he has for you, and are you doing all that he has called you to do? No matter how you answer those questions, you are his workmanship. He longs to see you live fully into your calling for he knows that in fulfilling that calling, you will be blessed and you will be a blessing!

Reflection:
Spend some time today reflecting on what it means for you to be God’s workmanship or masterpiece. What does he want you to know, to receive, and to do?