“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 along ago.” Ephesians 2:10 is one of my very favorite scriptures, and it is so freeing. The second part of Ephesians 2:10 is something a lot of Christians miss, or simply don’t get. The Lord has planned and prepared the good things for us to do, and we are simply to walk into them when they present themselves! No striving, no performing. When we get stressed about “being good” and try to do things in our own strength, we are working out of pride and fear and not relying on Jesus. Instead, we need to just be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit so that when we encounter a good thing God has prepared for us–from before the beginning of time–we simply walk into it. (The NIV puts it this way: “ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“)
Jesus said “My yoke (the things oxen wear around their necks when they’re working for their owners, in case you were wondering) is easy, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:30 God doesn’t want us running around like panicky interns backstage who can’t find the safety pins (a little nod to NY Fashion Week, which started Wednesday), trying to make sure THE BOSS is not mad at us. Trying to keep the creator of the universe from being angry with you is not a light burden. He loves us, and He just wants us to chill out already.
My mother is an amazing example of this, and she has been an excellent mentor to me. Two examples immediately come to mind: about a year ago she was picking up one of her purses? watches? (can’t remember) that was being repaired by a local jeweler. While in the store she watched a young girl with a baby trying to sell her thin, gold wedding band. The jeweler told her it was only worth $20, and she ran out of the store weeping. My mom ran after her, hugged her, and met her needs–both financial and emotional/spiritual. The second occurred at a kinda ghetto grocery store near my parents’ house. My mother doesn’t usually shop there, but for some reason she chose to go there that day. When it came time to check out, an elderly man, impeccably dressed, was in front of my mother in line and was trying to pay for his groceries with food stamps, but he didn’t have enough. My mother could sense the humiliation and despair pouring out of this man, and she told the cashier to add this man’s cart of groceries onto her bill. You see? Effortless–no striving or stressing on her part–good works prepared for her to walk into before the beginning of time. The Lord prepares the things for us to do, and our only job is to be led by His spirit so that we recognize these good things when we see them and are obedient to do the work required to make them happen.
Ephesians 2:10 applies to both little, everyday things, like my mom’s experiences, and to BIG things, like a new adventure God is calling you to. Before we pursue a dream–a good work prepared for us in advance–we must first conceive (form or devise a plan or idea in the mind, form a mental representation of; imagine) that dream, which requires being open and paying attention–to your passions, your talents, your deepest desires, and being sensitive to the Lord’s guidance. We must allow the dream to fully develop and unfold naturally, rather than trying to force things to happen our way, in our timing. However, we must not mistake resting in God’s grace and following the rhythms of His timing with taking zero action ourselves. Ecclesiastes 5:2-4 says: “For a dream comes with much business and painful effort…” Once you’ve conceived a big dream for your future and carried it around inside of you for awhile, there will come a time when God gives you the green light to give birth to that sucker, which takes much business and painful effort. No matter what your dream–ministry, business, reconciling family relationships and helping others do the same, etc.–when it’s go time you will have to work your tail off. However, when we’re walking into a good work He has called us to, that He has prepared for us, there will be tremendous peace and joy–even in the midst of the hard work.
