I believe I am a steward of God's resources and have been redeemed to participate in his kingdom purposes for his glory.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."
Acts 20:24
In a conversation with the Cheshire Cat, Alice (from Alice in Wonderland) asked, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.
Often, I find Christians without purpose are a little like Alice. I see many people who don’t really understand their purpose as they walk through life. Perhaps you have felt the same way. Maybe you are stuck in the monotony of work, or maybe you are going through the motions with your spouse or family. Perhaps you feel that life has lost meaning, and you are resigned to the idea that you are “going nowhere.” There’s good news for you: God has something in store for you that is greater than you might have imagined!
God is the only one qualified to define and give us life purpose. He created life and he created us. Doesn’t it stand to reason that he has the right to give us purpose? Ephesians 2:10 helps to clarify three truths about God’s purpose for our lives.
The verse begins by stating in the Greek that “we are God’s masterpiece!” This is a special statement indeed! Have you ever thought of yourself as a masterpiece? I love this statement, because not only does it speak to the worth God places on us, but it also indicates the extent to which God is involved with us. He is 100% bought into you and me! This is the first great truth we need to wrap our minds around. He isn’t interested in us merely a few days each year or even each month. He is completely bought into us fulfilling the purposes that he has set before us. How can we be sure he is this bought into us? Just look what he gave up for us all. Our lives are worth the blood of Christ, his Son. If that’s not “all in,” I don’t know what is!
But God doesn’t stop there—he continues in Ephesians 2:10 saying that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This is good news for us, because God is the one who is setting the agenda. This second truth is foundational. God knows how we fit into the team in the best way. He knows how we are gifted, and he desires for us to be stewards of what he gives us and participate in his Kingdom purposes.
The final truth brings this all together: God brings about the fulfillment of these purposes as we walk with him. A better translation of the last part of Ephesians 2:10 is, “which God prepared in advance for us to walk in them.” This makes the point that we are to walk in good works. What does that mean? To walk in good works is to walk by faith in God and to trust that as we walk with him, God will work through us. God is the one who is at work in us but also through us. Not only does he set the purpose, he also fulfills that purpose through us as we walk close to him! Is there a better deal than that?
Take some time today to thank the Lord that he is bought into you, that he is setting the course for your life, and that he is helping you accomplish the purposes he is setting. Always remember that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
PRAYER
Dear God, help me to put aside my agenda and my plans. Please reveal to me the purpose you have for my life. May I be a good steward of the time and resources you have given me. I ask you to work in me to impact others for the sake of the gospel. Amen.