207 Grace from first to last

Thankful today to be called into God's Kingdom by his grace.  To have works prepared for me and given to me by his grace.  To have the power to abound in those good works by his grace.  Grace from first to last.  

Here's a mediation I wrote that unpacks the above statements:

One of the verses I find myself mediating on and coming back to reguarly is Ephesians 2:10 which says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." The context of this passage is Paul's striking description of how God has made us dead sinners alive in Christ. He explains that we have no power to save ourselves and no reason for boasting, as it is God's mercy and grace alone that save us. Our works do not give us merit as we are saved by grace alone.

However, as it states in verse 10 we are re-created FOR good works. In response to our glorious salvation, we walk each day, doing the good works he has prepared beforehand. I love to ask the Lord, "what are the good works you have prepared beforehand for me to do today?" Just think, God designed us each with specific gifts and has given us each a context to do the good works he has prepared for us. It's not so much coming up with the good works ourselves but an asking...what have you prepared for me Lord? So we see in this short verse that both our salvation and our response to our salvation (good works) is led, initiated, given by God.

Paul knows this well. When Paul refers to the good works God has prepared in advance for him, namely declaring the mystery of "Christ in you" to the Gentiles, he calls it a "stewardship from God that was GIVEN to me." And in 2 Corinthians 4:1 we see again Paul's awareness of good works being prepared and given by God. "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart."

In putting these ideas together we see we are saved by grace and that good works are prepared or given to us by his grace.

And what about the power to do those good works? Where does that come from? Today I read 2 Corinthians 9. Paul is talking specifically about the good work of financial giving. Here is what he says, " And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." Yes it's me doing the good work, but the sufficiency to do that good work, and even abound in that good work comes from God making all grace abound to me. So whether my good works today happen to be financial giving or diapering my little one for the umpteenth time, the grace to abound in that good work comes from God alone, especially through the Spirit's empowering.  Like Paul, we are "with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

So we have a God who saves us by his grace. He gives us ministries, stewardships, good works that are prepared in advance by his grace and we see that the power to carry out those good works is by his making grace abound to us , so that we have what we need to carry them out. Being brought into his kingdom? BY HIS GRACE. Participating in Kingdom works? BY HIS GRACE. The power to do it? BY HIS GRACE! Sola Deo Gloria!

And the icing on the cake? Or maybe the cake itself...God delights in us as we walk out these good works by his grace. Check this out! Again, when Paul is talking about the Corinthians' ability to give financially, he tells them God loves a cheerful giver. GOD LOVES. HE IS DELIGHTED. As we depend on his Spirit, we will joyfully, cheerfully do the works he has prepared for us, and our God will be delighted. Yep, delighted. Our God has strong emotions about his children living out their high and glorious calling.

It's God grace from first to last that allows us to live out this glorious calling.  To be in his kingdom, doing kingdom works by his power and enjoying his delight over us.  

Father, your heart is so much wider and bigger than I can grasp.  Through Christ you have taken me from death unto true living.  Living a life I don't deserve.  A life in which I know you intimately, and I get to participate in your kingdom works by your power in me.  And you delight in me as I do.   That is true living.   Because of your pure grace  What kind of God are you?  So good.  So kind.  All praise to you, kind Father.