Yesterday we looked at Ephesians 2:10 which tells us we are God’s handiwork (His workmanship, masterpiece or ‘poem’), created by Him to do good works. This gives us value, significance and worth, for we are not just here randomly by chance, but were knit together in our mother’s womb by God Himself (see Ps 139) and have a reason to live!
We were created with purpose in mind (see 2 Tim 2:20-21) and apart from the general purpose of glorifying God through how we live, there is the specific call to serve others. How we do this will vary from person to person (see Rom 12:4-8); we all have different gifts and talents, but as the hymn says, even sweeping a room can be a divine offering! (see also Col 3:17) Knowing God’s specific call is important, but so often, we do not regard our everyday lives and service as important. It’s worth pondering that Jesus, secure in the knowledge of who He was and what He was called to do, was able to wash the disciples’ feet as part of His service (see John 13.) The ‘mundane’ jobs that are part of life can be good works if dedicated to God and to serving other people.
In the film ‘Three Amigos’, three actors are mistaken for the heroes they play on the silver screen by villagers in a small Mexican village called Santa Poco and are called on to save the village from the notorious bandit, El Guapo. In desperation, they ask the villagers what they can do, and they then use their talent – sewing – to confound El Guapo into thinking the Three Amigos are everywhere, and so defeat him. There is much comedy in the scene where they are told that sewing is the only thing the villagers can do, but with true movie magic, this skill turns out to be just what is needed, a very pointed reminder that what is scorned by others can actually be the thing that leads to our rescue! Perhaps, as Thomas Edison said, we mistake inspiration and service so often because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work!
When we stop focussing on what we are not, we are able to see ourselves as God sees us. He is no novice artist but has created us as individual works of art to fulfil His purposes for the world. We are created by God to do good works, works of service, works that show a hurting, dying world there is hope, forgiveness, compassion and love in God. Go into the world, then, and serve the purposes of God in your generation, as David did. (Acts 13:36) Live for something and Someone who is bigger than you.