For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10 

God has plans and purposes for us, works he has long planned for us to do.  He already knows what the year holds.  But are we willing to dedicate our time to God and resolve to do life and leadership in his name, no matter what comes along? Let’s look closely at this verse:

Workmanship: We are God’s workmanship. He made us.  He put thought and effort into us. Take a moment and write down how it makes you feel, knowing you are God’s workmanship.  

Good works: According to Ephesians 2:10, why were we made?

My answer was, “To do good works.” But why?  It’s not to justify ourselves.  Read these verses and make note of what good works don’t do for us: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6, 2 Timothy 1:9

These all make it clear we aren’t justified or forgiven because of anything we do.  So, why were we created to do good works? 

Read these verses and write what each says about the result of good works: Matthew 5:16, Romans 12:1, Colossians 1:10. Summarize all of these in a sentence:

My good works____________________________________________________________

Prepared in Advance: As we go through our lives, God lays opportunities before us to do good. It is not coincidence when we see someone struggling with something with which we can help.  It is not luck or fate.  It is God.  If we see someone in trouble and there is a way for us to help, God expects us to do it. God makes sure we see the lonely mom and then expects us to befriend her.  He makes sure we see the financial need and expects us to make a sacrifice. When God shows us a work to be done, we can be sure he has prepared it for us in advance and has the expectation that we will complete it.

Think back over the past week.  How many times did you see the opportunity for a good work but didn’t complete it? 

Did you say: “I don’t have extra time…money…energy right now”?  I have even heard myself say, “I’m too busy in the ministry to which God has called me to worry about something else right now.”  I’m not asking you to think back over opportunities missed so you’ll feel guilty but rather to help open our eyes to the chances God gives us to do what we were created to do.