Scripture
Made Alive with Christ
1Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[1] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Translation notes (1)
- 2:2 Greek obeying the commander of the power of the air.
10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Any artist, designer, or creator will tell you that everything they make has a purpose. Whether they intended their creation to be used, to encourage those viewing it, or to bring inspiration, a creator creates things for a specific purpose. The same is true with God’s creation. You see, He is the supreme creator of the world, and everything He created has a purpose, including you and me. He created us to do good things in the world that He has already planned for us.
The apostle Paul explained that God created human beings for a purpose in Ephesians 2. He wrote: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (verse 10). This verse makes it clear: we are a work of art. We were not created randomly or thoughtlessly. God made each one of us with intentionality and purpose. What was our purpose? Paul continues teaching that God created us to “do the good things He planned for us long ago.” From the beginning of our lives, God had a plan and purpose for us to do good things. Jesus made it crystal clear that He has specifically called us to do good by loving Him and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40).
When was the last time you thought about the fact that God created you for a purpose? Maybe it has been a long time. Maybe you have never honestly thought about this truth. But, friends, it is time for us to embrace God’s plan and purpose. Imagine what the world would be like if every follower of Christ woke up each day with their purpose in mind, ready and willing to make a difference and point others to Christ.
Moving toward action
Memorize Ephesians 2:10 today. Bring this verse to mind every day. Commit to living each day with your purpose. Look out for ways to love God and love people throughout your day.
Going Deeper
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT)
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