God’s Workshop

Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them.”

Take a look at the various tools in a workshop. Most of them seem designed to hurt something! They are made for hitting, cutting, chopping, drilling, scraping, grinding, pinching, twisting, and bending. Ouch! That does not sound pleasant at all. None of the tools is going to leave the object being worked on just as it was. They are agents of change. And described out of context they sound destructive and harmful–as indeed they can be. What makes the difference?

1) First, it is the goal and plan of the workman. He needs to have an end result in view that is beneficial, and perhaps even beautiful, and he needs a practical plan to achieve his goal. Think of how this applies to the Lord. He has a goal and plan in mind: that we display the character of Christ (Eph. 1:4; cf. 4:1), and engage in an effective ministry for Christ (Eph. 2:10).

2) The second factor is the ability and persistent care of the workman. He needs the strength and skill to do the job, and the commitment to do his work with care to its completion. Again, we can see these things in the Lord, with regard to His work in us. He is a God of great power (Eph. 1:18-20; 3:20-21), and great love (Eph. 2:4; 5:2, 25). And “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it” (Phil. 1:6).