Bible League: Living His Word For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Human beings in general are the product of God's handiwork, for everyone is a creature of God. As creatures, we are totally dependent beings – totally dependent upon the creative and providential sustenance of God. But Christians are also God's handiwork with respect to His providence of grace, for He has graciously determined to create us anew in Jesus Christ. In this respect as well, then, Christians are totally dependent upon God – totally dependent upon the gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Even further, however, God's handiwork of grace not only created us anew, but it also prepared us for good works. It is in this sense that we have been "Created in Christ to do good works." The creation mentioned here is the "new creation" that Paul referred to in some of his letters. For example, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (II Corinthians 5:17). Christians, then, are dependent upon God as creatures like the rest of humanity, but also dependent upon God as new creatures in Christ, and even dependent upon God for the good works we perform as new creatures. The works that God had in mind for us were prepared in advance for us to do. Paul believed that our salvation was predestined by God (see Ephesians 1:4-6), but our verse for today makes it plain that he believed the good works we perform as Christians were also predestined for us to do. Christians, then, are not only made into new creatures by God, they are made into new creatures so that they can perform the good works God had in mind from all eternity. None of this means that Christians are not responsible and accountable for the works that they do, for Paul also said that we should "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," but it does mean that "it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13). Today, when the fear and trembling comes upon you, take comfort in the knowledge that Almighty God Himself is working in you to help you perform the good works He prepared in advance for just you to do. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 32, 33 2 Chronicles 32 -- Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem; Hezekiah's Prayer Answered NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 33 -- Manasseh's Wicked Reign in Judah; Ammon follows NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 18:24-40 John 18 -- Judas Betrays Jesus; Peter Denies Him; Jesus Questioned by Annas and Pilate NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Insight Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Challenge Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 5:39 They are they which testify of me.Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible. He is the constant theme of its sacred pages; from first to last they testify of him. At the creation we at once discern him as one of the sacred Trinity; we catch a glimpse of him in the promise of the woman's seed; we see him typified in the ark of Noah; we walk with Abraham, as he sees Messiah's day; we dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon the gracious promise; we hear the venerable Israel talking of Shiloh; and in the numerous types of the law we find the Redeemer abundantly foreshadowed. Prophets and kings, priests and preachers, all look one way--they all stand as the cherubs did over the ark, desiring to look within, and to read the mystery of God's great propitiation. Still more manifestly in the New Testament we find our Lord the one pervading subject. It is not an ingot here and there, or dust of gold thinly scattered, but here you stand upon a solid floor of gold; for the whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified, and even its closing sentence is bejewelled with the Redeemer's name. We should always read Scripture in this light; we should consider the word to be as a mirror into which Christ looks down from heaven; and then we, looking into it, see his face reflected as in a glass--darkly, it is true, but still in such a way as to be a blessed preparation for seeing him as we shall see him, face to face. This volume contains Jesus Christ's letters to us, perfumed by his love. These pages are the garments of our King, and they all smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Scripture is the royal chariot in which Jesus rides, and it is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. The Scriptures are the swaddling bands of the holy child Jesus; unroll them and you find your Saviour. The quintessence of the word of God is Christ. Daily Light on the Daily Path Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.Luke 7:41,42 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. • "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" Matthew 18:32,33 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. • 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' Mark 11:25,26 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. • "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." Colossians 3:12,13 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; • bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Matthew 18:21,22 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" • Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Colossians 3:14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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