Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That – Ephesians 2:8-10 – No One Can Boast – Growing As Disciples

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Masterpiece

You are my workmanship. You are my masterpiece. I created you for a purpose. I had a plan in mind when I made you. I prepared good works in advance for you to do for me. I’m so excited to hear this from you. I couldn’t be more delighted. I want to be used by you. It is my joy and pleasure to serve you. I welcome your work in my life. I want you to mold and shape me into a living masterpiece that will bring honor to your name. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. That is exactly what I will do in and through you.

Let’s take a pause here for a moment. There is one thing that I always want you to remember. What’s that? You can’t merit or earn your salvation. You have received your salvation and have faith in me as a free gift. Yes, I have. I know that all I have received from you has come to me as a gift. My service to you is being given because I love you. I’m not trying to earn your love or your favor. Why is that? You already love me. You have already shown me your favor. My service to you is not being given in an attempt to pay you back for all that you have done for me. Why is that? I could never pay you back. To even try to pay you back would be a sin. Your gift of salvation would not be a gift at all if I had to pay you back. That’s right. I am indebted to you however. What do you mean by that? Maybe, I’m not expressing myself correctly. Here is what I mean. Because you love me I love you. Because you gave yourself to me I’m giving myself fully to you. Because you have done so much for me I’m giving you all my thanks and praise.  I’m not trying to pay you back. I’m not trying to earn anything from you. It is just my desire to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. So, when you say that you have good things planned in advance for me to do my only questions are, “When and where do I start?” Those are good questions.

You start by listening to me. You continue by following me. You do know that apart from me you can do nothing that will bear real fruit and last for all eternity? Yes, I know that. Then listen to me. Then follow me. I will speak so that you can hear from me. I will lead you to where I want you to be. I will give you what I want you to do for me. Yes, Lord, that is exactly what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for making my salvation and faith in you available to me as a free gift. Keep molding and shaping my life. Make me into the masterpiece that you want me to be. Guide me to do the good works that you have planned in advance for me to do. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship study guide click here:

So That – Ephesians 2-8-10 – No One Can Boast – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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