Title: Not By, But For / Topic: Good Works

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 1; Ephesians 2; Ephesians 3; Ephesians 4

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Observation: Paul explains one of the most misunderstood principles of the Gospel. It has to do with salvation and works.

We are saved by grace through faith. And even this faith of ours which enables us to receive the grace that brings our salvation is a gift from God. Therefore our salvation is "not by works," that is, not by something we did -- it's all Him.

But, (and here is where the misunderstanding comes in) once saved, we are "to do good works." So good works are the product of salvation, not the means. We are saved not by, but for good works. In fact, God has a "to do" list of good works that He prepared in advance for us.

Application: Seek God about what is on His "to do" list for you. Each one of us is a unique creation of God for a unique purpose. "We are God's workmanship" -- in other words, each of us is a one-of-a-kind project that God is ongoingly working on. He has the singular design in mind and He is shaping each of us toward that specific divine design. As I work on His "to do" list for me, I am cooperating with His plan and purpose and am making steps toward "finished product" status in God's eyes. When I am finished, the Lord will say, "well done!"

Prayer: Lord, that is what I want to hear from Your lips, "Well done!" It is my will to cooperate with You in Your purpose for my life. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in me as it is in heaven.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.