"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph. 2:10
When we believe in Jesus and are immersed into God and He in us (1 John 4:15), we become a new creation - God's workmanship (literally God's poem). As God's new creation we are given the grace to reveal an aspect of God's glory.
"..to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." Ephesians 4:7
God's will is that we appreciate how we have been gifted in Christ and that we honour the grace that is upon others. The grace that is upon our lives is God's commission for our lives.
"Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Romans 1:5
Paul received the grace or gifting to fulfill God's will for his life to be a messenger to the Gentiles of God's love in Christ. Likewise, when we identify how God has graced us in Christ, we will understand God's will for our lives.
In Romans 12:1-10, Paul speaks to the Church about how she is to live her life differently, now that she is in Christ. I have paraphrased this passage as follows:
“Brothers, because of God’s mercy to you and the grace you have been given, live your lives set apart for the Master’s use as you serve God and one another with the grace you have been given, in humility according to your faith and dependence on what God has given you. Change the way you live your lives by having the right thoughts about who you are and what God has gifted you to do. Then you will discover God’s will for your life. Don’t think of yourself beyond how God has made you and gifted you. Be honest with yourself and realise how unique you are and how God has given you gifts to serve others in love. Understand that you need one another and that God has put you together with others to encourage one another and love one another with the grace that is upon each of your lives. Recognise the grace that is upon those around you and honour their anointing so that you can benefit from what God is doing through their lives. Don’t think you are better than anyone just because they have different gifts. Everything we have, we have received from God so don’t boast as though you produced your gifting yourself. God’s Spirit is in you for your benefit but upon you for the benefit of others so use your gifts faithfully so that others will be encouraged. This is God's will for your life.”
When we believe in Jesus and are immersed into God and He in us (1 John 4:15), we become a new creation - God's workmanship (literally God's poem). As God's new creation we are given the grace to reveal an aspect of God's glory.
"..to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." Ephesians 4:7
God's will is that we appreciate how we have been gifted in Christ and that we honour the grace that is upon others. The grace that is upon our lives is God's commission for our lives.
"Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Romans 1:5
Paul received the grace or gifting to fulfill God's will for his life to be a messenger to the Gentiles of God's love in Christ. Likewise, when we identify how God has graced us in Christ, we will understand God's will for our lives.
In Romans 12:1-10, Paul speaks to the Church about how she is to live her life differently, now that she is in Christ. I have paraphrased this passage as follows:
“Brothers, because of God’s mercy to you and the grace you have been given, live your lives set apart for the Master’s use as you serve God and one another with the grace you have been given, in humility according to your faith and dependence on what God has given you. Change the way you live your lives by having the right thoughts about who you are and what God has gifted you to do. Then you will discover God’s will for your life. Don’t think of yourself beyond how God has made you and gifted you. Be honest with yourself and realise how unique you are and how God has given you gifts to serve others in love. Understand that you need one another and that God has put you together with others to encourage one another and love one another with the grace that is upon each of your lives. Recognise the grace that is upon those around you and honour their anointing so that you can benefit from what God is doing through their lives. Don’t think you are better than anyone just because they have different gifts. Everything we have, we have received from God so don’t boast as though you produced your gifting yourself. God’s Spirit is in you for your benefit but upon you for the benefit of others so use your gifts faithfully so that others will be encouraged. This is God's will for your life.”
Rejoice in how God has made you in Christ and use your gifts faithfully as you overflow with God's grace and love. This is God's will for your life.
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