One-Anothering

DAILY READING

 Ephesians 2:8-10

Discussion Guide

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Good Works - Thanks be to God!

by Elaine Pierce

One of the members of my small group has pretty much memorized the book of Ephesians, and he often will remind us of these verses, especially verse 8 - it is by grace we have been saved, through faith - not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. He is steeped in scripture, and he encourages our group to be grounded in what really matters (when we so easily get sidetracked). I was excited to see that these verses are our focus of worship today. 

You might say, well, that is nice. But I already knew that. Haven't we spent several weeks in Galatians talking about  how easy it is to fall into the 'performance plan' way of life? We want to earn our salvation through adherence to the law -  And Paul repeatedly tells us, NO.  We can't 'perform' our way in.  

But let's take a closer look at these verses. Yes, verse 8 reminds us that our salvation is only through faith in Christ. But what are we saved for? Verse 10 answers that question: "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Let that sink in. God has good works prepared for you - you who are saved by faith - and he has planned those good works specifically for you. Your good works won't get you a better seat in heaven. But they will bring glory to God:

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16).    

When I approach works this way, the whole 'performance plan' mindset is turned on its head. I don't do good works to impress God. Or my family. Or my small group. Or my church as a whole. God designed me to do good works, and what a privilege it is to bring praise to our Father.  

God is working in each of us to transform us and prepare us for good works. Each of us is at a different place in our faith journey. Who can you encourage today? Where does God want you to work? Come to him in prayer - ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Be open to how you can serve.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."  (Psalm 127:1).

Thank you, Lord, for your word. Help me today to rejoice in my eternal salvation, and to bring praise and glory to you through the good works you have prepared in advance for me to do. I love you, and I serve you with gladness. Amen.  

PRAYER PRACTICE

Spoken Prayer – Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

ZEALOUS FOR GOOD DEEDS

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 8-10

You may have experienced this before. You read a portion of scripture – and the whole rest of the week God brings further “messages” related to what you read to “bring home” the lesson He wants to impress on your heart. A sermon, a Bible study, a conversation with a friend or co-worker may trigger the thought the Holy Spirit is trying to grab your attention about.

 

That happened to me this week, as I read and pondered especially verse 10 of today’s reading. “for you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  It triggered the question, “How is this related to my last week’s Bible study?”  My Thursday women’s group is studying the Fruit of the Spirit – last week’s was on “Goodness.”

A verse that stood out for me was Titus 2:14, “[Christ Jesus] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

As I looked at these two verses, a phrase from each stood out: God has already prepared good works for me to do, and He has prepared (purified) me to zealously do good deeds.

So if He has the good deeds all ready to go, and He has given me an eagerness to do them, all that needs to happen is to get me connected with those specific deeds He has for me!  One way that helps me identify a specific act as “mine” is to say to God as I am going into a store, a restaurant, or a specific setting where I will have the possibility of interacting with people, “You know who will be here and their need for a good deed.  Remove my blinders of self-absorption in the task I came to do.  Open my eyes to really see people.”

God has given some wonderful opportunities for me to encourage a cashier, to help a fellow customer reach for an item, or to offer to pray for someone.  Seem insignificant?  Not to the person you have acknowledged, nor to our Father, who sees that the good works He has planned are being accomplished one deed at a time!

Thank you, Father, that you created me for good works – even more, that You redeemed me so I might be zealous to do these good works for Your glory. Keep me walking toward my assigned good deeds! Amen.