Servings Per Verse: Unknown
ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God hath prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
*ETS:
Do works have a place in the Christian life? Yes! First God works in our hearts, forgiving our sins and freeing us from the power of sin. When our hearts are pure and we have been placed in union with Christ, God works through us. What works does God work through us ? God works through us works we have been prepared to do, works he has preplanned for his glory and our good, works that can only be accomplished through our union in Christ.
*DTFTD:
Ephesians 2:10 brings Matthew 7:22 to mind. Many will say to the Lord in the day of judgment, "Lord, Lord, did we not . . . do many mighty works in your name?" These words will be spoken by people who will believe they have many works to their credit, works Jesus will reward. Much to their surprise instead of being rewarded, their works will be rejected. The message is simple, not all works done in the name of Jesus are acceptable. Jesus will reject many works done in his name, and will call those who participated in such things "workers of lawlessness (Matthew 7:23). However, there are works that play a major part in the Christian life. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." The works we must do are the works referred to as "the will" of the Father. The will of the Father is revealed in the words of Christ, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24). The works God foreordained the believer to walk in are the works outlined in the words of Jesus. In salvation we are placed in Christ, in service we obey his word by the power of his Spirit. The works we must focus our attention on are not those of our own design, but the works outlined in the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.
*EDS:
No one will be justified by the works of the flesh. The only works that will be remembered in eternity are divine works - the work of God in saving the sinner and the work of God empowering the saved to do his will.
INGREDIENTS: A focus on the subject of works. Word Study: The word "walk" is peripateo, "to regulate one's life, to conduct one's self, to order one's behavior." (Wuest, vol. 1). The will of God is not a part time or pass time activity for the believer.
*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.
