God has something specific for you … to do.
The Bible tells us something incredible in Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Let that sink in for a moment. There are good works that God has literally prepared in advance for you to do. It’s interesting that the word in the original language (Greek) for “God’s handiwork” is the word poema, from which we get the English word “poem.” When the Bible says we are God’s handiwork, it is like saying we are God’s poem, God’s custom-designed, one-of-a-kind work of art. God has deliberately created us and saved us to do the good works that he prepared in advance for us to do.
In Matthew 8:14-15, when Peter’s mother in law was healed by Jesus, she immediately got up and began to serve Jesus using her new gift of health. We too are blessed to be a blessing. God gives some of us wealth that we might support gospel work. God gives some of us influence that we might use it to put the spotlight on Christ. God gives us gifts to use them for His glory. We are saved, not to sit around and wait for the rapture, but rather to be busy in service until our Lord returns.
This week there may be some specific people he wants you to reach out to and serve. There may be some specific opportunities that you’ll have to show encouragement and love for someone in need. There may be some specific people that you can talk to and/or share the gospel with. There are some good works God has prepared in advance for you to do. God may have the occasion prepared, but you still need to do the good work. He has given you spiritual gifts and natural talents to accomplish these good works, but you still need to rely on Him to accomplish them.
I heard the story about young girl who wanted to be a concert pianist when she grew up, but all she could play was the simple tune “chopsticks.” One day her parents decided to take her to the home of a family friend, who was a famous pianist. When they arrived, the girl immediately ran over to the beautiful grand piano in the living room and sat down to play “chopsticks.” The girl’s parents were embarrassed when their famous musician walked into the room, but he quietly walked up to the piano and encouraged her to continue playing. As she did, he sat down next to her and began to play a beautiful melody, adding chords, runs, and arpeggios, to complement what the little girl was playing. The parents couldn’t believe their ears. They were hearing a beautiful piano duet, and surprisingly, the central theme of it was still “chopsticks.”
That’s a good reminder for how it is with us and God. Our spiritual gifts or natural talents may not seem all that impressive. We may not think they amount to much. But as we are just faithful to use them to do “good works,” he makes something beautiful out of it.
