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A Predestined Path
Andrea Lende • December 21, 2020
Ephesians 2:10
A Predestined Path
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/A-Predestined-Path-eo34k0
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
Ah, living the good life.
Sounds like a slogan.
Sounds like something we would say while sitting around a table of good food or having coffee with a friend.
Something we might say on a beautiful day with our toes in the sand on vacation.
Or maybe congregating by a campfire.
Paul uses it in our passage to talk about the life the Lord has planned for us.
A life that has been predestined by God Almighty.
He blesses us as we serve Him.
I love that Paul says, “we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship)”.
I know when I create something with my hands, I am proud of it.
I take pleasure in making it and I want others to enjoy it as well.
Take something as simple as preparing a meal.
I am thrilled when it turns out well and my family enjoys it.
The more they enjoy it the more I elated I feel.
I imagine the Lord taking joy in His handiwork in a similar way.
He works on us.
Does a work in us.
It is through His Son’s sacrifice, resurrection, forgiveness, and grace that we are able to be used by the Lord.
He molds our hearts, shapes our desires, and prepares us to serve Him.
Today I choose to rejoice in the Lord and offer my service to Him as He continues to mold and shape me, so I am better able to serve Him.
May you find the Lord is working on you as He has plans for you to live “the good life which He prearranged and made ready for” you to live.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for sending Your Son to make it possible for me to have relationship with You, serve You, and be molded and shaped by You. Thank You, Lord, for working on my heart and soul. I need Your Holy Spirit to fill me with Your love so I can serve You with my whole heart. Help me love as You love. Help me have compassion for those in need. Help me see the needs of Your people and go to their aid. Help me see what You see, Father. Even as the restrictions continue, help me do what I can to help those who cannot. May You lead and guide my steps today, Father. Help me do the things You have planned for this day and every day. Keep my heart seeking Yours. Guard the thoughts I think and the words I say. Help me encourage instead of tear down. Help me speak life into those around me today. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM working on you and molding your heart, so you will be able to do all the things I have planned for you, My child.
Response: Mold me, shape me, and make me Yours, Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.