Living Stones – Monday, September 11, 2017
His workmanship
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.
Many today struggle with issues of identity. The challenge of the personal identity crisis has been the subject of many a modern book that seeks to help people overcome problems of low self-esteem, and low self-worth. People have spent a lot on conferences and seminars to grapple with this issue and the other problems it causes for their lives.
Many speakers and facilitators start their seminars and workshops with the big question – Who am I? If they could get you to say who you are beyond just giving your name then they are on to helping you solve a number of your problems in life.
Some persons try to answer the identity question with their profession, I am a baker or I am a lawyer or I am a nurse.
There are also problems of identity that are rooted in our personal history; especially the history of our relationship with our fathers, or the absence of our fathers.
Today there is also the issue of sexual identity. While homosexuality has been with us for thousands of years, the contemporary problems of sexual identity had never been as prevalent as they are now.
In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul here in a complex discourse about faith and grace makes the comment that “we are His workmanship” a statement about our identity.
The Greek scholars tell us that the used here literally means “a thing made” but used the way it has been in this passage refers to “a masterpiece.”
This is a big statement about identity. If we could see that our identity is rooted in who we are to God, in Christ, we have a real starting point for tackling many of our “identity issues.” Knowing that ultimately, we are God’s makes all the difference.
When we say we are God’s we are not merely making the general statement we are “all God’s children” like everyone says. Instead, we are saying that we, individually, through salvation in Christ are God’s. We’re his workmanship; his masterpiece. That’s our identity.
Think of these things:
- Do you have any identity issues?
- How has your life been affected by your sense of identity?
- Do you see how your identity in Christ changes your life?
Prayer focus:
Pray today that the knowledge that you are God’s workmanship will give you personal security about your identity and serve as the basis for tackling all other life issues.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex