Happy Sunday to all!
Pastor Steve did not present a message this morning, because we were blessed to have a representative of the Gideons inspire us about their ministry.
We did, however, have the Call to Worship, so I thought I’d share that here today with a quick little devotional. 🙂
Call to Worship
Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of
this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit
who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us
also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of
our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the
rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of
his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive
with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is
by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with
Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ
Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to
us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are
God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
In the last verse, we read that human beings are God’s “handiwork” (other translations say “workmanship” or “creative work” or “masterpiece” or even “poetry”). How cool is that?
And how did He create mankind? He spoke us into existence (“God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image…'” Genesis 1:26 MSG). The author N.D. Wilson notes that this makes all human beings “words made flesh.” There is only one “Word (with a capital W) made flesh” (John 1:14), our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But, since we are made in His image, and we were spoken into existence, we are “words (with a small w) made flesh.” I don’t know about you, but that kind of blows my mind.
God not only created us in His image, He took special care to make us His masterpieces. And, moreover, He created us to do good things, things that will glorify Him and reflect His light onto others who are so desperately in need of a Savior. We are His words to a lost and dying world. What is your life saying to those around you?
Praying you have a glorious week!
Laurin 🙂
Colona Community Church 