If you turn to the New Testament and the book of Ephesians, you’ll discover that the Apostle Paul has been imprisoned. He has been falsely accused of being a troublemaker. At first we may be struck by the injustice of this. It’s easy to imagine how frustrating it must be for not only himself but also the infant Church to have its greatest evangelist and church planter incarcerated in Rome. Yet God has a plan, and during this prolonged period in jail Paul is inspired to write letters of encouragement and instruction to fledgling congregations and individuals.
These 13 letter or epistles make up half of the New Testament and since then have served to teach the Church worldwide for another nineteen and a half centuries. So while we would never wish trouble or hardship on ourselves or others, let’s not abandon our faith in times of difficulty. Let’s keep praying and serving, trusting that God will successfully carry through his plan for good.
For being a letter written from prison, Ephesians is wonderfully positive. Despite the various challenging circumstances they face, Paul has been encouraging his Christian readers by spelling out what God has done for them. The encouragement continues, with Paul telling his audience that they have been ‘saved’, rescued by God and given a new identity as children of heaven. He is saying that although physically they’re still on earth, their spiritual place is in eternal heaven.
This should affect how we think and feel and live in the here and now. We understand present things are by nature imperfect and temporary. We’re grateful for every good thing but are looking forward to better. We are motivated less by worldly ambitions and possessions and more by our desire to please and serve the Lord.
Paul makes a wonderful declaration in Ephesians 2:10. We are, he says, “God’s workmanship.” The original word suggests nothing less than a ‘masterpiece’, something in which the artist takes the utmost care and delight. What encouragement for anyone who struggles with self-esteem. God delights in his children and takes pleasure in patiently working in us, making of us something wonderful.
Of course, these encouraging truths become even more profound when we consider the contrast Paul gives us here. It’s disturbing, but the Apostle is insistent and includes himself when he writes: “Listen, let’s understand that before we were Christians we were spiritually dead, enslaved to sin and evil deception and heading quite deservedly for judgement...”
St Paul says we are “God’s workmanship”. The original word suggests nothing less than a ‘masterpiece’, something in which the artist takes the utmost care and delight. What encouragement for anyone who struggles with self-esteem
He’s saying that we get what we pay for. God is holy. You cannot treat the Lord and His commands with contempt and expect there to be no consequences. When we live to please ourselves first, writes Paul, we are asking for trouble.
Then Paul gives us two little words: “But God...” On these hang a world of difference. Paul explains that God is rich in love, in mercy, in grace and in kindness towards his lost creation. We were on the rubbish heap with nothing to look forward to but the incinerator... but God reached into the skip and said, ‘I will not give you up, I will value you, I will bring you home, I will recycle you, I will make something more than good of you.’
Why? We’re not worthy. But God is merciful; and that is grace. In grace He gave His Son, in grace Jesus suffered the cross. We’re not saved by our own works, boasting of our own virtues will get us nowhere. By grace sinners like us can be saved and become God’s workmanship, his masterpieces.
