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From
the November, 2000 edition of The Doulos monthly
newsletter
by
Pat Jones
The
Tool in the Master’s Hand
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
As
you read the Scriptures it is important to remember they are timeless.
How the Word spoke to the apostles is how it speaks to us today and how
it will speak to others in the future. All
the commands and promises of God are as sure today as they were thousands of
years ago.
With
this in mind, let us take a look at Ephesians
2:8-10. Here is the greatest
promise of God. “For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith...”
My salvation is totally by God’s grace.
I had nothing to do with it. The
only thing He requires is that I believe - by faith.
This again shows God’s perfect wisdom since I had nothing to with my
salvation. I can’t puff out my
chest and say look how good I am or see what I did – being “boastful.”
Secondly,
since I did nothing to get God’s gift; I can do nothing to lose it.
I am in God’s hands and no one can take me from His hand.
(John
10:29 - “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no
one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”)
Next,
we are not only saved by grace, but we are created by His workmanship.
Think on that for a moment. You
were designed by the most High God, perfect in His eyes.
Why did He design me the way He did?
For a simple reason, “to do good works.”
Being created to do good works is great; but God went one step further,
He prepared us in advance for His purpose.
He gave us the tools to do His work.
There is nothing lacking, except for us to say, “Yes, use me.”
So
as God created me, saved me and prepared me to do
His will, I will not fail because it is Christ working in me.
Again, all that is required of me is faith. So my prayer
for you and everyone at The Chapel is for us to be searching God’s Word to
see how we can be used by our Holy Father.
The only thing I can give God in return for all He has done for me is to
give of myself and do whatever He asks. Someday
I will be able to sing praises face to face to Him, but for now I can only
serve Him.
Remember
the perfectly made tool is of no use until the Master Craftsman
puts it to work.
In
Christ,
Pat
Jones
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