While watching top athletes compete in a global event, my family and I marveled at their incredible feats. But as a relatively sedentary person, I was equally awestruck by their training regimens. In interview after interview, athletes would share how they woke up early every morning and did nothing but work out for hours on end. Every calorie would be counted, every movement analyzed for maximum efficiency. But they didn’t talk about their training as if it were a hardship—something negative. No, they described it with pride and passion because they recognized the privilege of being one of the few athletes in the world capable of competing at the very highest level.
Believers in Jesus are certainly called to the privilege of serving God with passion. Ephesians 2 states that we’re created to do good works by His power and provision (Ephesians 2:10). And as clearly presented elsewhere in the New Testament, the work we’re called to do isn’t easy. Jesus Himself embraced a cross and called us to carry our own (Matthew 16:24). But when Paul talks about doing good works, he frames it as a privilege, not a burden. In Ephesians 2:10, he says that we’re God’s “masterpiece.” In this, he gives us the sense that we’ve been created and crafted by God to do good works. We were made in His image and are now new creations designed to reflect His ways (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I have to admit that far too often I view all that I’m called to do as a believer in Jesus as more of a burden than a privilege. That’s why Paul’s words in Ephesians are so important to keep in mind. When it comes to my calling to follow Christ, it’s not that I have to do it. By God’s provision, it’s pure privilege!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 5:1-39
More:
Read 1 Peter 2:9 to see how Peter describes the privilege of being a believer in Jesus.
Next:
Does being God’s masterpiece feel like a burden or a privilege for you? How can your life better reflect your calling?
ericjohnallas on June 29, 2017 at 12:47 am
The Need for Self-Discipline
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:23-27
ericjohnallas on June 29, 2017 at 12:59 am
As we do training/ working out the salvation given freely to us we should know God is in us giving us strength to go on…
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
To God be the Glory our strength….
I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Ps 18:1-2
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Gary Shultz on June 29, 2017 at 5:50 am
Hi Peter: Our standing in God did have all to do with a payment of the right kind to be made. Yes, we had nothing to do with that, heavens doors are open because of the love and payment of Christ. If we can understand that a little, we humbly place ourselves under the work he has done. Peter this ties in so nicely with ODB, now we work toward the salvation that awaits us, as ericjohnallas states. And like those athletes if we follow correctly with the love of God’s Spirit in our hearts we will do so with joy and anticipation. The cool thing is we are all given gifts so we can do that, we are all given things we can and should be doing that has smaller amount to do with are giftedness. Like studying the word, prayer, a holy walk, a thankful heart, to mention a few. God has expectations for us let us be formed into the masterpiece He has intended. Thanks Peter
Tom Felten on June 29, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Good thoughts, Gary. I love the idea you brought out about how about our individual gifts affect the others in the Body of Christ. May we exercise them as a privilege of our new life in Jesus!
don777 on June 29, 2017 at 5:53 am
So often i go through my devotions, pray to get ready for the day then go into the and forget 🙁 that these trials & test are a Blessing from God. They purge me of self. I must decrease the He would increase. I need a Savior every day all day. Oh Lord help me go through this day conscious of you & not on auto pilot. +>i
Tom Felten on June 29, 2017 at 4:06 pm
Amen, Don. We all need to be reminded throughout the day of who we truly are in Christ and what He’s called us to do!
minkjh on June 29, 2017 at 4:25 pm
While I’m so very far from a masterpiece (more like a work in progress), that doesn’t exempt me from following the Master’s plan. The opportunities for serving are laid before us daily whether we view them as privilege or burden. As we respond faithfully and our kingdom work continues throughout life’s journey only then do we begin to resonate the workmanship that Paul was talking about. The finished ‘masterpiece’ will be unveiled at our glorification, but the scope and power of our works will pale in light of the work accomplished through our Lord’s atonement. “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”