Footprints in the sand remind me of life, of the places we walk, of the impact we desire to have during our lives. We walk and create an impression, these footprints in the sand.
And yet the waves come and wash over the prints, and they are gone. What becomes of the work that we do and the lives that we live? Read more
The “verse for the day” project started through a series of daily emails I was sending my children. I began to then post them on my blog to keep a record and help me in doing this daily. Today, I relived for my children some of my high school experiences and introduced them to “my 9th grade self.” I thought they’d enjoy hearing about those transformational years and some of the key concepts I learned like finding my identity in Christ, not the opinions of peers, and the joy of following God and being who He designed me to be, not trying to be something I wasn’t.
Having our identity securely in Christ, we’re able to look outward to others and care for them and point them to Jesus, too. I love Ephesians 1 which tells us all that we have and are in Christ. I’ve written a little bit about those verses before here.
These memories brought me today to Ephesians 2:10:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
“For we are His workmanship…”
This word means the result of labor and skill – can you picture that God used His skill to make you? He thought about you when He made you and designed you in a unique and wonderful way!
“…created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
We were created in Christ by His skill for good works that we should walk in them.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you that we are Yours, created by You with care and thought, made in Your image, with purpose. May we today walk in the good works that you prepared in advance for us to do. And may we know who we are in You, so they we aren’t shifted and shaken by the world, but we are standing on the Rock, stable and secure because of what You have done in and us for us in Christ. We love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen
This post is the third in a series on “calling.” The first was on our identity in Christ, then the necessity of following Jesus, and today is considering the purpose of our lives.
When my children were preschool age, our church (a non-denominational, gospel-centered, Bible-believing church) taught the first 15 or so questions of the shorter catechism for children. The first five questions were:
I love the simplicity of these true statements. God made us for His own glory. We glorify Him by loving Him and doing what He commands. (1 John 5:3: “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” NIV)
These catechism questions seem to indicate a purpose for those who are in Christ: to glorify God, to love Him, to obey Him. Our Creator and Savior is worthy of giving our lives to Him. When we have faith in Him, when we really believe that He is, then we will want to obey what He says, and this shows our love for Him. There is great blessing in following Christ in this way, for His glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (ESV).
My Bible notes (the Nelson Study Bible, NKJV) say that glory is “derived from a Hebrew verb which is used to describe the weight of worthiness of something.” It says the word “glory” is usually “used to depict greatness and splendor.”
As I consider “calling,” I want to know my identity in Christ, my first call to follow Him, and my purpose to bring glory to His Name, to live in love and obedience to Him.
Isaiah 26:8 “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. (NIV)
Psalm 115:1 “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
Praise Proclaimer 