God’s Workmanship

Let’s look at Ephesians 2:1-10. These verses talk about how you are rooted in the fact that Christ loves you, he saves you. He will carry you through your sport, when life gets tough, through graduation, and when you start the rest of your life. However, verse one in Ephesians describes our original condition – we were born in sin. We tend to glance over this, but it is a devastating scenario; we are separated from God and have no personal relationship.

In Genesis 1:26-27 we are reminded that God created everything then gave man the command about the tree. Now, the command was not to set them up, or keep them from something good. In Genesis 3, the Serpent approaches Eve and asks, what did God really say? She repeats God’s command. The serpent says “No! God wants to keep you from being more like Him!” Here is the deception: how can we be more like God if we are created in His image?

We know what happens next. They ate the fruit, they got kicked out, they had no relationship with God. Now, here we are in 2016. We aren’t perfect. Sin has scarred us in the core of our DNA. We deserve punishment, but because of love, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took the place that we deserve and died a nasty death to defeat the power of sin. We are like the Walking Dead – zombies, dead in our trespasses. Romans 5:8 – While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He didn’t wait for us to “get it together.” There are times when we sin that we think God is mad at us. We almost want him to be. But, His love is unconditional.

Ephesians 2:10 talks about us being God’s workmanship. YOU are HIS workmanship. What does that mean? God is super proud of you. God is madly in love with you. God has a special purpose for you. I could go on and on! The grace that God has provided is all-sufficient. What is grace? It can be defined as unmerited favor. I was a Cub Scout and earned merit badges. I had to work hard for them. Grace is something that we don’t work for at all. Jesus Christ died, but didn’t have to. We received salvation that we didn’t deserve. Because of that death you can put your faith in Him.

Be thankful for what God has done for you in His grace. Is it possible to count your blessings? Yes – but you will never get to the end. Blessings are always happening. Your thankfulness should be contagious. Everything is measured by a standard – let our standard be Christ and His grace.