Workmanship

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

is

Isaiah 64:8 ESV

8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

God did not save us from Hell only to put us on a shelf like an ornament. He saved us for a reason, that is, He has a purpose for each of us. And from the moment of our salvation, He had been working in us to achieve that purpose.

Now, it is vital for us to know what that purpose is. In fact, I believe that much christian heartache and pain comes from not know what God’s purposes are and as a result, not knowing why he does what he does.

Imagine going to strangers place, and the next moment he pulls us a raor, gasses you, strips you, lies you down on a ice cold table and stats cutting open your chest while you sleep.

That is terrifying!!!

But if you knew that the stranger was a doctor, who had places you under anastecis and was doing a life saving operation on you, then its not so bad.

Just knowing the reason behind the actions makes all the difference.

So what is the reason God is working in you? What is he seeking accomplish?

Christlikeness

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Philippians 2:5 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

If a person has been born again then there is GOING to be evidence of that new birth. Now that we are born of the light, we are going to walk in the light.

Hebrews 10:26 ESV

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

1 John 3:9 ESV

9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

The Potters Tools

People

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

People are powerful tools God uses to bring about transformation in the lives of His children. God provides us with mentors, examples and wonderful teachers.

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

He provides these at times when following Jesus might seem impossible, we can always follow our spiritual leaders as they follow Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

But God also uses difficult people to shape us. Difficult people are God’s grindstones. They reveal our hidden pride and impatience. They teach us humility and how to turn the other cheek.

Circumstances

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

What is God’s purpose? To make you Christlike, and God has the power to use all kinds of circumstances to accomplish that.

Good times teach us to enjoy God’s providence and riches.

Psalm 147

Of course i think we ll know that often it is times of distress which, for mny people, producing the best resuklts of piety, repentance and confession.

Psalm 18:6 ESV

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

rom

james 1 2-

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Spiritual Disciplines

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

Anything that assists in you yielding to God.

1 times 4 7