“Still, God, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter…” – Isaiah 64:8 (MSG)
One of my favourite verses, Ephesians 2:10, speaks clearly to us about our purpose and the way we must serve. It says: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV). We are reminded here that we are all known from creation. Our life is a gift from God from beginning to end. All of us, like sheep, go astray at some point, and it is God’s mercy and love that takes our sinful lives and makes us over so that we can have a new life in Jesus Christ.
Meditating on these words should help us to conclude that we neither made nor saved ourselves. Without Him (Jesus), we wouldn’t accomplish ‘good works.’ From the words in Ephesians we have to conclude that our entire lives are formed through the power of God. So why put on a show? Just be grateful to God for every accomplishment in your life. Choose to serve!
When we seriously consider the path that God has carved for each of us, we’ll not go astray. We are admonished not to think of ourselves more highly than others (Philippians 2:3). C. S. Lewis says, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Let’s not compare our accomplishments, financial success, education, or material wealth to others, but guard our mouths and control our actions.
Jesus told the parable of the two men who prayed (Luke 18:9-14). One thought that he was better than the other because he wasn’t a robber, adulterer, or evildoer like the tax collector standing beside him. The tax collector, on the other hand, prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus said the tax collector left the presence of God being made righteous in the sight of God.
Jesus’ words to all of us are: “…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” – Verse 14. It is better to be a servant acting in humility than to be arrogant, act unjustly, despise the poor and the powerless, refuse to embrace the widows and children, and end up being humbled by God.
Humility does not demand perfection; it encourages us to have no fear of our imperfection and not to judge that of others. Many times, we tend to focus on King David’s indiscretions, but he never committed the same sin twice, and he acknowledged his mistakes. God’s words reveal the truth. It doesn’t promote tourism on this journey of life. It reveals the good, the better, and the best. Our best is Jesus. Let’s strive to be like Him. We are called to be leaders, and we all have a purpose attached to our lives. Approach every assignment with a spirit of service and excellence. Realise that you are called to do ‘good works’ everywhere.
Read: Proverbs 22:4; Mark 10:45
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 16:18-27; Acts 25:23-27; Acts 26:1-23; 2 Kings 14:23-29; 2 Kings 15
