Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Ephesians 2  Verse 10 tells us we are the handiwork of God, He has created, manufactured us in Christ Jesus for the purpose of "good works".  God has prepared those works for us "that we should walk in them".   How do we walk in good works?

Paul writes in Eph. 4:1-3 " ... walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience and forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." 
In Titus 3:14 he writes, " And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful."  And in 2:14 " Christ Jesus... who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds".  3:8 " .. be careful to engage in good deeds. These are things good and profitable for men." 
Paul's prayer recorded in Col.1 includes this "we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work... " ( v9-10)
Romans 12:2 and 21  also address this subject, " And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is,  that which is good and acceptable and perfect"  and " Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

There are many more passages that we could look at, but just thinking about these few we can say that God's purpose for us is to walk in a way that pleases Him and is worthy of His calling.  We do this by:
Being humble.
Being gentle.
Being patient and forbearing.
Loving one another.
Being in unity and peace with one another.
Helping each other with pressing needs.
Doing those things that are profitable, of value.

We can only walk this way as we are filled with "spiritual wisdom and understanding"... We must be filled with the Spirit of God, to know Him and to know His will.  To "prove" or discern the will of God, we must be "transformed" by the Spirit of God, Who renews our minds. Then we can know what is "good and acceptable and perfect" and "overcome evil with good."

Oh Father God, Almighty Jehovah, we look to You once again, that You might complete us. Sanctify us entirely, taking our bodies, souls, and spirits as we present ourselves.. living sacrifices to You.  We  cannot do good unless You fill us with Yourself.  Holy Spirit, our Helper, we must have Your holy power that we might walk a worthy walk that pleases our Father. Fill us now, continually we pray, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, our glorious Savior and King, Amen.

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