For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
While we are saved by grace, not by works or obeying the law, obviously the Christian is called to do good works. Why? To get into heaven? So that people will think highly of us? No, as Christians God is now working in us to fulfill good works that he preordained for us to do in fulfilling His will for us in this life. Each of us has a particular calling to do in this life. It is the magic of how the Body of Christ, the Church, works in this world. We all have different jobs to do…and we are to honor and lift each other up, encouraging each other to do our particular callings.
Unfortunately today we tend to compare ourselves to others. We think of ourselves as higher or lower than other people or members of our church. We elevate certain people and their good deeds while often neglecting those who perform tasks outside of the limelight of recognition. Yet, Jesus himself said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
When we do good works as part of our calling, we need to realize that God has prepared us beforehand for the tasks He calls us to. It is our reasonable service and response to His grace and mercy which has promised us eternal life and is the meaning of life in this present world. He will not ask us to do something we are not able or prepared to do. Sometimes God takes years or decades to prepare us for our greatest tasks. For most of us, it takes decades before we even realize specifically what God has called us to and why we have gone through the trials and tribulations or even sinful lost times we have chosen. Yet we know that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
So, what is God’s purpose for your life? For some of us, it is to be excellent parents who raise Godly children. For others, we are called to singlehood and able to devote more of our time and energy to missions or be freer to travel or focus on spiritual things. Still others of us are called to care for the sick and infirmed. Some are called to manage finances, help people build financial security, or simply providing finances for families, churches, or civil society. Many are called to physical labor or building things for the glory of God. We all are equal in the eyes of the Lord if we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, so why do we oft times spend time comparing ourselves to others? That is not of the Spirit of God. You are a unique and special son or daughter of the Almighty God. If you are living in obedience to his calling, you never have anything to apologize for or be embarrassed about.
So I encourage you today with “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
We are in a race to do that which God has called us to do. We need to consider the short lifespan we have to do so in this world. There is no time for taking our eyes off the prize of spending eternity with the Lord and each other. Yet, when we weaken or get tempted to compare ourselves to others or let sin take us out of the race, we have Jesus, the “founder and perfecter of our faith” who is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. So, fear not and continue in the good works God has preordained for you while you still have the breath to do so. He will enable you to do so if you stay in communion with Him.