Ephesians 2:10 (Amp) For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art] created in Christ Jesus, [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Before receiving Christ, we were slaves to sin and the world’s dictation. We had different values, principles, identities, and priorities, and lived very self-centred lives. We used our wisdom and strength to strive for significance, validation, and acceptance by men through our achievements. We were driven by success, self-actualisation, and self-glorification. The success of our position, influence, assets, and money defined us.
However, seeking money, achievements, and positions can be meaningless because things on earth can never satisfy the void in our hearts. Somehow, we know that there is a God and the impending judgement after death. Therefore, we may attempt to use religious practices to soothe our conscience and obtain peace by doing good works and trying to buy favour from the gods or the spirits we worship. Eventually, some may call for a time-out when they are disillusioned by the pursuit of success, the endless work, and the need to deal with company politics and the survival of the fittest. We must realise that riches are temporal, and when we think we have achieved everything ourselves, we have become slaves to riches.
However, after we are saved, we have a different perspective regarding success and a different definition of our identity from that of the world. We have peace with God, and the peace of God rules in our hearts because our lives have been restored with Him. We now live a purposeful and intentional life for the Lord, a cause greater than ourselves, because we know that we have been created for a higher purpose than merely existing for ourselves, and life on earth is temporal. We understand that we are stewards of God’s blessings, which have been given to us to bless others. God has honoured His covenant with us and granted us the power to create wealth, and we want to be that channel to bless others through good works.
Psalm 139:14 (NKJV) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
We know that each of us is a masterpiece uniquely created by God. When we understand that we all have unique gifts and talents, and are made for specific callings and purposes, we won’t strive to emulate others or try to measure up to them to prove our worth. When we embrace this truth, we will excel as we walk in our callings after diligently seeking His face.
Sermon Series: Growing our Faith in God (Part 3)
在基督里的新生命
以弗所书 2:10 我们原是祂的工作,在基督耶稣里造成的,为要叫我们行善,就是上帝所预备叫我们行的。
在接受基督之前,我们曾是罪的奴仆并被世界支配。我们有不同的价值观、原则、身份和优先事项,过着非常自我中心的生活。我们用自己的智慧和力量,通过我们的成就来追求社会地位、认可和被人接受。我们被成功、自我实现和自我美化所驱动。我们被地位、影响力、资产和金钱上所取得的成功所定义。
然而,追求金钱、成就和地位是毫无意义的,因为世上的东西永远无法满足我们内心的空虚。然而,我们知道有上帝存在,也知道死后有审判。因此,我们或许会尝试用宗教习俗来抚慰我们的良心,通过行善积德来获取平安,并试图从我们所崇拜的神灵那里得着肯定。最终,当有些人因为追求成功、无休止的工作、需要处理的公司政治和适者生存的需要而感到失望时,他们可能会要求暂停。我们必须意识到财富是短暂的;当我们认为自己实现了一切时,我们就成了财富的奴隶。
但是在我们得救之后,我们对成功有了不同的看法,对自己的身份也有了不同于世人的定义。我们与神和好,神的平安在我们心中掌权,因为我们的生命因神的同在得到了恢复。我们现今是为主活出一个有目的和有意向的生活,是比我们自己更重要之物,因为我们知道,我们受造是为了更高的目的,而不仅仅是为了我们自己而存在。在世上的生命是短暂的。我们明白,我们是上帝所赐下的福的管家,上帝赐福给我们是为了祝福他人。上帝履行了与我们的盟约,赐予我们创造财富的能力,而我们也希望通过善行成为祝福他人的渠道。
诗篇 139:14 我要称谢祢,因我受造,奇妙可畏; 祢的作为奇妙,这是我心深知道的。
我们知道,我们每个人都是上帝创造的独一无二的杰作。当我们明白我们每个人都有独特的恩赐和才能,都是为着特定的呼召和目的而造的时候,我们就不会努力去模仿别人,也不会为了证明自己的价值而与别人比较。当我们接受这一真理时,我们就会变得卓越,因为我们不断地寻求神并活出我们的呼召。
讲章系列:在神里面让信心生发成长 (第三部份)
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