stephen R Harrison

“A New Purpose”

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

-Ephesians 2:10

A recently retired gentleman told me he had lost his purpose after about six months of his new routine. He regretted retiring and asked for prayer. I encouraged him to find his significance in Christ, not his career. That’s hard after working the same job and practicing the same routine for 40 years! After that conversation, I read Ephesians 2:10 and asked God to help me see that my purpose is found exclusively through him, no matter what I do. 

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. The word “handiwork” can be translated as “poem” or “masterpiece”. As one of the guys who discipled me used to say about people, “God didn’t make no junk”. His use of a double negative makes it an even better statement. As one pastor said, God created us on purpose for a purpose. Before Christ, we used to live for ourselves. Our desires, emotions, feelings, and purpose were wrapped up in comfort, entertainment, and worldliness. We sought what the world said was important. For some, that was their career. They had a “whatever it takes to be the best” mentality to climb the ladder of success. Some lived for pleasure. “Whatever feels good, do it” was their motto in life. For others, they lived for family. While good, there is a higher purpose (that can be a foundation for our families).

Ephesians 2:8 says we are saved by grace through faith. It is a gift from God. After salvation, God shows us the purpose he’s had all along for us. Notice verse 10 again. It says we are “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. God created a purpose for us long ago. He didn’t create us purposeless. Sin disrupted and misdirected our attention. When God redeemed us and made us brand new, he reintroduced his purpose for our lives. We were made to worship him and make him known to others. This is done using the spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, talents, experience, opportunities, relationships, prayer, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and much more he grants us. Every part of our lives is now to be spent pleasing the Lord and doing his will. 

We don’t just go about business as before once we are saved. If so, perhaps we were never saved? Our lives must look different than before being saved by Jesus. God planned out specific good deeds and opportunities for each of us to do before we were born and reintroduced them to us when we were born again. God’s redemptive and sanctifying work in our lives is the basis of us being His workmanship. Workmanship means he is working through us. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). While not saved by our works, we are saved for good works. We display his workmanship as a light of the gospel to a watching world in need of seeing Jesus. 

Questions: 

How has God repurposed your desires, skills, experiences, etc., since salvation?

What is God calling you to do for his Kingdom and glory?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for saving us and giving us a Kingdom purpose. We live to serve you and do your will with our lives. We know our works don’t earn righteousness. Help us practice righteousness from our position in Christ. Please help us to do good works so others may see and come to know you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Read: 

Ephesians 2:1-10

Action Step:

During Lent, what spiritual gift has God given you to use to serve someone else? Discover this gift and ask God how to use it to practically love someone and point them to Christ.