Work because of Grace

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. 
Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)

In our Human thinking we sometimes will debate Grace - vs - Works.  There really is no debate when we see what Paul writes here to the Ephesians.  He is clear we are saved by grace.  Salvation is a gift from God.  All the boasting for salvation goes to God.  He is the one who has done the work for salvation.

But also notice we are His creation.  He is created us for works.  In fact in God's wisdom and plan He has prepared, ahead of time, what He would have us do.  There are some general things, like holiness, righteousness and becoming more like Jesus, that are common to us all.  But there are also some specific things that God has created you and recreated you to be as a New creation for Jesus.  God has a very specific plan for you personally.

So the reality is for the Christ follower we are saved by Grace and God has work for us to do.  In fact the evidence of our salvation is in our works. (See James)  The question for us as Christ followers is will we be found living out His grace in our works?

Distracted

 
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42 (NASB)

Are you ever distracted?  There are days it seems like it is a way of life.  There are so many good things to do as a Christ follower.  There are always demands on us from life in general.  I find that for many of us we fall into the Martha trap.  We get busy doing good things for Jesus that we fail to just spend time with Jesus.  I was reminded this morning in my own devotional time that Jesus is more interested in my relationship with Him than what I am intent on doing for Him.

Let our prayer be today that we make our relationship with Him first and everything else get prioritized behind Him.  After all we are His followers and He is our Lord!

Ready!

 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open [the door] for him at once. 37 Those  slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed.  I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 39 But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

Luke 12:35-40 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Jesus' return.  The Bible is clear that He will return.  This parable instructs us to be ready.  The HCSB states it "ready for service."  I like that rendering because it get at the truth the Scripture implies.  We are not getting ready and watching for him as if we were on a "Star watch".  We are not waiting for a famous person or waiting for an unusual event to occur.  This passage implies that we have a job to do, a service for the King in preparation for His coming.

In other words, Christ followers are to be ready and serving until He arrives.  The job will not be done until we hear that trumpet call.  Stay alert!  Stay ready!  Stay busy!

Where He has placed you!

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—

1 Tim 1:12 (HCSB)

Where has God placed you?  Some of us may respond well no where!  "I am in this dead end job!"  Or maybe you may say, "I really don't have any important role in the church or ministry."  We may excuse ourselves by saying, "I really don't have any gifts, skills," even, "God can't use me."  No,  God has placed you where you are for His purpose.  You have a ministry, whether you recognize it or not.

Notice three important things about Paul's statement to Timothy.  First, He is thankful.  Don't belittle where God has placed you but revel in it.  God has placed you where you are to do what only you can do.  Thank Him for using you there!

Second, notice that He says God has considered him faithful.  Was Paul more faithful than us?  Perhaps in some ways but over all no not really.  He was human just like us.  Sinful, some times stupid and not always doing what he should be and yet God considered him faithful.  Understand what God understands about you.  You are a work in progress.  If you are waiting to be perfect, ready or prepared you probably will never be used.  God considers us faithful not because of who we are but because of who we will be.

Third, just a reminder, God places us where He wants us.  Ministry is not a choice it is our calling.  We don't choose where and when we serve.  God places us in His place and in His time.

Just serve where He has placed you!

Not for faint of heart

 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Tim 4:6-8 (NASB95)

Being a Christ follower is not for the faint of heart.  Paul doesn't beat around the bush with Timothy.  He reminds him that serving the King is going to require some difficult choices, circumstances and consequences.  Paul reminds us that serving means we must sacrifice ourselves willingly.  That goes against the grain for us.  We often seek comfort rather than sacrifice.

There is also required the need to get into the struggle for the Kingdom.  Kingdom living is equated to a fight or wrestling match.  Paul also describes it as running a marathon that requires endurance to finish the race no matter how much it hurts.

Yes being a Christ follower requires a commitment in which we give all but also remember the rewards.  Eternity with Him, a Crown of Righteousness and of course a, "well done, good and faithful servant."  Keep striving today in your commitment to following King Jesus!

Gladness

 Serve the Lord with gladness;

Psalms 100:2 (HCSB)

How do you serve the Lord?  Did you wake up today intent and excited about serving Him.  Or has your service become a drudgery.  We sometimes begin to feel serving the Lord is a duty and it loses its excitement and appeal.  Here is a simple challenge.  Remember how good He is and serve Him with gladness!

Choices; for His Use

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 2 Tim 2:20-23 (HCSB)

God wants to use you but your choices make the difference of how or if you can be used for His service.  This movie scene is a fun way to illustrate the importance of choices:


What choice will you make?  Will you avoid youthful passions and pursue righteous living?  Will you chose to be a useful vessel today?

Ready

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’7 “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’9 “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.11 “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’12 “But he replied, ‘ I assure you: I do not know you!’13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

Matt 25:1-13 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Christ's return?  Many Christ followers are anticipating Christ's return.  I was visiting one of the members of our congregation in the hospital the other day.  His room mate made it a point to tell me he too was a believer and that he thought Jesus was coming back any time.  Many Christ followers are taking the "I'm just waiting for Jesus!" approach.

While we are to be watching we are also to be ready.  This parable tells of 10 Virgins (young ladies) who were waiting for the grooms return.  Here's what we need to understand.  They were waiting but they had a purpose, a job, for when the groom returns.  The virgins were friends of the bride.  They were to watch for the groom and light the path for him and his party as he returns to begin the feast.  5 of these virgins were ready to light the path and 5 were not adequately prepared to light the path.

I firmly believe Jesus is returning.  The Bible is clear.  Every Christ follower should be waiting.  But while we wait we have a job to do.  We are to be telling others about the groom, Jesus.  Are you doing your job?  Are you ready?

The trap of "rewards"

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said* to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'7 "They said* to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said* to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'
8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said* to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' 9 "When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius . 10 "When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 "When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 'Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous ?' 16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last."

Matt 20:1-16 (NASB95)

We all like rewards.  It feels good to be rewarded for hard work or a good job.  Yet in Kingdom living the Christ follower needs to evaluate and be careful that we are working for the master for the right reason.  In Kingdom living and Kingdom work it should not be about the reward but about serving the master.

Jesus told this parable to remind his followers that He decides who serves where, for how long and what the rewards will be.  There are really no big servants and rewards or little servants or rewards.  The idea that the Kingdom is comprised of Super Christians and normal Christians is just not accurate.  The real test is are we obedient and faithful.

Rewards are nice and they are promised.  But the Christ follower must beware of the trap of looking for the reward rather than loving and serving the master.

Qualified

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 (HCSB)

Are you qualified to do great things for God?  I have talked with many Christians who struggle as a Christ follower because they don't think they are qualified.  They think they don't know enough.  The feel inadequate to effectively be used by God.  When we have those thoughts we just need to go back to the Scripture.  Story after story in the Old Testament as well as the new we show us the error of our thoughts.

This verse from the Acts is a prime example.  Peter and John were doing great things.  They were bold and those opposing them were surprised and impressed.  Why were they impressed?  Because they realized that they were uneducated and untrained men.  Now note that it was the opposition that discovered the "why."  It was that they had been with Jesus!

So back to our initial question, are you qualified to do great things for God?  Have you been with Jesus?  Are you spending time growing in your relationship with Him?  Are you spending time in His Word so that He can teach you?  If so, get ready because you can do great things!  If not, there is a very simple solutions.  START!

Glory and Honor

 "And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;

Dan 7:14 (NASB95)

 We serve a God who is due glory and honor.  Daniel reminds us that Jesus has been given dominion and glory.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He has dominion over His kingdom.  As Christ followers we are subjects of His Kingdom.

What kind of subjects are we?  Do we give Him the glory and the honor that He deserves?  Are we serving Him as our honored King.  May this Christmas be a time of honoring our King, King Jesus!

A Vessel for His use

"perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

Esth 4:14 (HCSB)

Queen Esther was more than just a pretty face.  She was a vessel for God's use!  There is no way we can know why God has placed us where we are until we hear His call to action.  You are not where you are by accident.  God does not place us in our positions of life just because He wants to bless us.  We have this notion that we are in a favorable place because we have earned it or because God just really loves us.  He does loves us but you are where you are because God want to use you.  There will come a time when God will clearly speak to you and call you to action. Will you be ready?  Will you be obedient?

Be ready to respond to Him, in His time and for His purpose!

Jump In!

Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

2 Tim 1:6-7 (HCSB)

Seize the day! Serve the Lord!

Weakness

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

2 Cor 12:9 (NASB95)