For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
We are God's own handiwork. He created us and He knows the motives of our hearts. Because of our flesh we have the capability of messing things up regularly. We make mistakes with our spouses, our children, at work and even at church. We can literally find ourselves digging pits we are likely to fall into all over town. God knew the ability to cause trouble was always at our door. That’s why God sent Jesus filled with His Holy Spirit. The Lord told Cain in Genesis 4:7 "...sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (NIV) The word crouch means to creep or cringe. Many people believe that sin is a formidable force, but the truth is, if you are a child of God, you have been empowered to overcome the sin in your life. God says the temptation to sin is everywhere, but so is He and when we call on the name of Jesus we can expect to be saved. Scripture teaches all who call on the name of Jesus shall be saved. The Lord wasn’t just talking about a one-time experience. We need to be saved every day and God knew it. We are told to take our petitions to God, to let our entire requests be known. If you need to get your mind off what others are or aren't doing, then make that request known to God. If you have a habit that doesn’t honor the Lord and your heart is hurting about it, then take it to the throne. God says His ear is not deaf and His arm is not short. God is helping His children that choose to seek Him every single day. He tells us in Amos 5:4 “seek me and live.” (NIV) True living is free living. We came to God captive to our sin nature, and He set us free, now we have to learn to walk in that freedom and it starts with seeking God. The Lord promises us in Proverbs 18:17 “I love those who love me and those who seek me find me.” (NIV)
We don’t just go to church to seek God. We can seek Him anywhere, anytime for every situation. But before we can be confident in our quest producing fruit, we have to believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and then be filled with the Holy Spirit. That enables us to overcome the sin in our lives and go do those good works that God had pre-planned and predestined for us. The bible tells us in 1 John 5:4 "for everyone born of God overcomes the world..." (NIV) God has destined His children for success; we just have to believe in what Jesus accomplished here on earth and walk in that truth. Many people say every day is a new chance to get it right, but God says every second is a new opportunity because His mercy flows without interruption. Just because you and I have had trouble in our lives or just because we have made mistakes in our past does not mean that God's great plan has changed for us. It is still available. All we have to do is get back on track. Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you?...” (TLB) There’s no better time to examine yourself and make sure that you are walking with the Lord and in His great plan for your life than today!
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. ~Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)
Are you walking with the Lord and doing those good works that He predestined for you to do?
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