October 22, 2023 "We Were Made For God's Work"

ReNew Ames Messages

We're gonna stick with the identity question - who are you? Verse 10 will be our focus - For we are God's workmanship (handiwork), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. There's this idea that we are the creators of our own lives. Nowhere do we see this more than in social media - no wonder humanity eventually came up with this idea. We carefully craft the persona we want the world to see. It feeds that part of our souls that says, "I'm in charge here. I'm a self-made person." Paul says, "Nope, we are God's handiwork." We are not self-made - we are God-made. But it gets better. Behind that idea of "handiwork" there's this idea that we are God's artwork - God's masterpiece. Each one of us - a masterpiece of the divine artist. Why would God do this? What were we made for? We were made for work. So this isn't a new idea - it's an ancient idea that Paul is repackaging and giving back to the Ephesians. What kind of work? Good work. What kind of good work? Good work which God prepared IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO! What in the actual? What does that mean? Ha! Hell if I know. Anyway, these works are unique to each of us. Sometimes we call this our calling, or our vocation, or our purpose. It's the place where your passions, what you're really good at, your gifts, your personality, and where you live and work all come together. When you find that place, you've found your good works. We are all a masterpiece of God. God wants all of us to partner with the divine in the world. So where is that place for you? Where all those things come together - that's your identity. Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10 http://bible.com/events/49157957