For

For

by David Brenneman 

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 NASB 

Just as when we come across a "therefore" to read earlier to find out what that therefore is there for...we might consider looking deeper at what a for is there for.

We often get taught to consider a career. In the case of many people it's plainly obvious as to what they ought to do and what they shouldn't.

In the case of many throughout history God's plans superceded their own desires. 

We often are tempted to go left rather than right.  As my experience was yesterday.  I certainly should have turned to leave a parking lot to the right of where I was parked rather than the left.  Now my truck needs some body work. 

We often are tempted to be wise in our own eyes.  We go through something difficult and get gun shy about going farther on the path that we are on.

We feel the pain of the experience each time we consider the past.  But what if it was God's intent to see you through that experience to do more for Him?  

For we are His workmanship...we are essentially His work in progress.  We are the living embodiment of a project He has embarked upon.  We are going to have painful times and times for recuperating.  We are going to think the painful experience is going on forever when it's not. 

The for in this verse is to look for the reason that's coming.  In my short life I have had many jobs. Some Longer than others.  I indeed know a great many things and indeed God's allowed me to learn a great many things.  I, however, have come to realize that none of those things that I have been given to do define me.  What defines me is who I am in Christ Jesus. What's being done by me should be towards my sanctification in Christ Jesus. Pointing people to Jesus.  

We have a for that applies to all of us. As mentioned earlier some God's plan has superceded their desires because His Will must be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. In this here and this now those individuals have a special role in that plan of God for mankind.  Satan's well aware of these people and will do and go as far as he can to derail them.  Jesus will only permit so much in their lives because of His plans for them.  Those people will need to indeed stay strong in the Lord all the time. 

Which God has prepared beforehand.

Think about that right there.  Before you were born God's had a segment in time set aside for your work for the Kingdom of God.

We can either deviate from that plan and purpose, thus prolonging the work He’s doing in and through us, or we can submit to what He's called us to be doing. 

Romans 11:29 NASB "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

This passage stood out to me in my reading the other day.  Those called of God are called for life.  Indeed they will go through probably harder times than most others.  They are indeed a special work in Christ Jesus.  We also read in 1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB that the Spirit placed each Believer in the body of Christ as HE sees fit. "But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.".

Our only "career" is that work that is necessary for our sanctification in Christ Jesus. 

That we would walk in them. 

In what I read here, willful willingness, is a requirement.  We should want to be doing what He's prepared for us to be doing.  It may not look important but it is important to God.

We may want to run from it, but, it's important to Jesus. 

We may not like it because it hurts, but Jesus says it's necessary.  We may never understand the absolute true reason why but it's necessary. 

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 NASB 

We are each called to do our part in the body of Christ.  It's not negotiable. It's for us to be doing even if it's difficult. Paul said he would boast in his weaknesses. He too faced something extremely difficult to him and asked several times for God to take it away.  He was told no. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB "And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

We will always be tempted to take the easy road.  We will indeed be facing those exit signs to leave that road we are called to be on.  Many have and have as the Bible says been shipwrecked in their faith. 

My prayer for me is to be found faithful and found doing that work that He prepared for me to be doing.  

We will either faithfully obey or faithfully disobey.  We will either have a mindset of "Your Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" or we will want our will done on Earth as it certainly isn't in Heaven. Jesus said that every last word of God's word WILL happen.  Our obedience to what we have been called to be doing either shortens or prolongs things.  If we aren't doing what we were called in Christ Jesus to be doing then He has to find someone else in the meantime until we come back to obedience. 

Pray about your walk with Jesus. Be sure of your calling in Christ Jesus. You my Dear Reader, if indeed you are in Christ Jesus, have a special, specific, spectacular job to be doing in Jesus because of that work He prepared for you.