The Amazing Work of God

What have you seen that is amazing? Maybe it’s a sunrise or a sunset. Or maybe you saw an extraordinary act by a person. Or maybe its a medical miracle like a surgical procedure.

Many times the things we call amazing are things that we see; but Christians are called to see things deeper than with their eyes. We are called to be aware of the amazing things that the Kingdom of God is about that we may never see with our physical eyes.

Now, here’s the coolest part about God’s amazing work- he invites us to be a part of it. God does an amazing work in us, and then he invites us to be a part of his amazing work in the world.

God’s work for us

Ephesians 2:4–7 (ESV)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

There is not much a dead person can do. And before Jesus we were all dead in our trespasses. The work of God for us began in the life of Jesus as he forged the path of salvation for us- and there was nothing we contributed to it other than the sin Jesus’ sacrificed had to cover. This is why the Scripture says it is of grace so no one can boast.

God’s work in us

V10 of today’s passage tells us that we are God’s workmanship. God invites us into his presence to do a work inside of us. Like an episode of “Extreme Christian Makeover” God makes us and molds us for his purpose. While the world may not see much value in us, God sees us not just as who we are but who he designed us to be. God see our potential not our pitfalls.

All our lives God works on us, chiseling away those parts of our life that hinder us from fitting into His eternal temple. Our Christian life is a work in progress. Jesus Christ is changing us from a useless stone to a useful one. Before Michelangelo created the masterpiece we know simply as “David,” Agostino d’ Antonio had worked diligently but unsuccessfully on a large piece of marble. He gave up his effort and said, “I can do nothing with it.” Some others tried after him but failed. This piece of marble was laid in a rubbish heap for 40 years. Out strolling one day Michelangelo saw the stone and believed that it had great possibilities. We know what happened. From that seemingly worthless stone was carved one of the world’s masterpieces of sculpture- David. For Michelangelo, the job of the sculptor was to free the forms that were already inside the stone. He believed every stone had a sculpture within it, and the work of sculpting was simply a matter of chipping away all that was not a part of the statue.

When Jesus looks at us, He sees not a rough piece of rock but He sees inside of us the potential to be a beautiful dressed stone useful in his temple. As the Master Sculptor He is able to chip away all that is not a part of what He wants us to be. This work of transformation is accomplished only by the One referred to as “The Living Stone.” F. B. Meyer says, “Stones touch the Stone and become jewels.” Stones useful in building God’s house

You Are God’s Masterpiece

The Greek word that Paul uses here is actually the word we get poem from in English. The idea that Paul is trying to get across to us is that we are God’s masterpiece. The things that he does in our lives are not accidental or happenstance. No, they are intentional and purposeful to help work out his goal for us and our lives.

It took Beethoven 4 years to write Symphony #5

It took Michelanelo almost 5 years to paint the sisteen chapel

Starry Night by Van Gogh was almost a year’s work the work.

Masterpieces are not made overnight, and not made with one note, one brush stroke, or one decision.

2 Cor 4:7-12 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”

Bob Ross used to say that we do not make mistakes, just happy little accidents- God makes neither. Whatever God is up to in our lives it is always for a plan and purpose.

God’s Work Through us

Now, Paul takes it one step further. Because he then tells us that there is work God is doing around us, that we are called to be a part of- God invited us into partnership with us.

Now, pay attention, the Scripture says that God has laid these works out for us.

Have you ever built a house? I’m betting there was an arcitecht involved at some point. Could you imagine what a mess your house would be without an arcietct or an engineer? If you just walked around throwing up walls and floors with no plan, no specs- just whatever you are feeling in the moment?

Friends, not only has God invited us into good works- the Scriptures tell us that God has already planned those good works for us.

So that means if we want to do something good for the glory of God- all we need to do is walk out what he has already planned and called us to.

This should really take the pressure and the monkey off our backs.

Last night my mom text me about the vote today and told me she was praying for us and asked me if I was nervous.

No- I said. She asked why- and I told her that I was not stressed either way so there was no need to be worried.

See, if we are supposed to own that building across the street and do good things w it- God already has that figured out. If we are not supposed to own it and God has other things planned for us to do in his name then he already has that figured out too- our job is not to figure it out, our job is to be faithful to what he already has planned for us.

Same for you friends, we don’t need to invent ways to do good things for God- we merely need to ask him to show us what has already laid out for us.

“God’s work, done God’s way, will receive God’s supply.” Hudson Taylor

My kids HATE Lowes- hate it. Why? Because they know that if we are doing a project we will need to go to Lowes at least 3-4 times. In fact, my motto is “No job has really started until the second trip to Lowes” Because I am so bad at estimating what we need and how much. I am always a few boards short, a bag of cement short; I dont have the right tool- something. I am so glad God is not like that.