A Life in Exile

I love God’s Word, because it never grows old. The Lord continually surprises me with new insights and inspiration. This happened recently when reading a verse I’ve memorized and known my whole life. Let me share it with you:

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 (ESV)

In the New International Version, “that we should walk in them” is translated “for us to do.” While they convey the same meaning, I think walking is stronger, as it shows that as we go through this life, we are to do the good works God’s prepared for us to accomplish.

This jumped out of the page for me, as I thought about what it all meant. As people, created in the image of God and saved by grace (not works, see verses 8-9), we don’t have to carry the burden of a works-based faith. Not only has grace taken care of that, but even the works we are to do are pre-prepared, or prepackaged, so to speak. God’s got them all ready for us to do. What’s required of us?

Walk in them.

If you don’t find that freeing, think about it some more! For me, it reveals that as I walk in this life, God will put opportunities for doing good in my path. It might look like something as simple as saying hello to a person who’s lonely or preparing a meal for a couple who’s just had their first child. Maybe it’s helping a neighbor with getting their groceries into their house or offering to clean for an elderly friend who’s been ill.

You know what good looks like, right?

There is nothing in this verse or passage that says we are to preach or teach or perform miracles in his name, though those are good things. No, it simply says we are to walk in the good God’s prepared in advance for us to do.

So, how do I move forward in this profound truth? How do I know if it’s something God’s prepared for me?

• Is it good? Is the opportunity lying before me a good thing (i.e. for another’s benefit) or bad?
• Has God prepared it? You’ll be able to see this if it conforms with his Word. If it is something that would not give him glory or be in contradiction to the Bible, then I would know it’s not from him.
• Walk in it! Do it!

That’s how we live by grace, not by works, because when we walk in the works he’s prepared for us to do, then we can’t boast that we thought of it first or planned it to happen. He’s laid it all out there for us on a silver platter; we just have to pick it up and run with it.

Are you stressed out to know what God’s will is for your life? Are you worried that you’re not doing enough to prove your a believer?

Maybe today is the day he’s telling you to take a chill pill of grace and open your eyes to see the next good thing in front of you to accomplish. When you do that in the name of Christ, you’re giving him glory, and able, as you walk, to truly live in

Grace and Peace.