Created for Good Works

For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. — Eph 2:10

O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever! — Psalm 118:1

Next week we begin our descent into the deep spiritual brooding of Lent. We start with the Ash Wednesday liturgy and its invitation that reads, in part, “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance”. “And we receive the ashes that remind us that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.”

If we place our self-examination mindful of the scripture passages at the top of this page and our Baptismal Covenant we are faced with the questions, “Why?” and “How?”  “Why did God create me?” “How do I live in response to that creation?”

The passage from Ephesians is interpreted to read “For we are his workmanship”, in the King James and New King James versions of the Bible; “We are God’s work of art”, in the New Jerusalem Bible; and  “For we are God’s masterpiece”, in the New Living Translation. All of the translations suggest that God created each of us to be pretty special. Even more special, He created us in Christ Jesus to do good work which He has planned.

Wow! From the dust, God created each of us in Christ Jesus to do good works that he has planned for us. And He didn’t just create us. He created us as works of art, masterpieces, each gifted with just the right abilities, talents, and resources to do the particular good works He expects of us. What a fantastic opportunity! What could be better than to be prepared from birth for special tasks, particularly God’s special tasks, and then have the opportunity to carry them out?

In speaking of the program for our coming Lenten suppers, “Gifts of God for the People of God,” Fr. Shearer has observed that the gifts with which God endows each of us are not gifts for ourselves. Rather, they are gifts to Christ’s church; gifts to be used in carrying out God’s work, particularly through His church.

Consider the following as part of your keeping a Holy Lent. Carefully consider (self-examination) the abilities, talents, and resources with which God has blessed you. Think about how you can apply those gifts to your living out the Baptismal Covenant (page 304 in the Book of Common Prayer). Acknowledge to God any areas where you may have been remiss in utilizing His blessings. Ask His forgiveness and His help to grow in your ability to be faithful in using His gifts as He intended (repentance).

This, incidentally, is stewardship. It is our using well, in God’s service, the gifts with which God has blessed us. It is our responsibility, but it is also a gift to be able to express our appreciation for God’s continuous bounty in this way. O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!

If you have any questions about how you can best apply your God-given gifts at Christ Church, pick up a ministries booklet from the tract rack, contact the church office, or have a conversation with any of our clergy.