Ephesians 2:10 tells us, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." A masterpiece is made with precise awareness of what one wants to create. There is a purpose in mind, specific things going into the making of that masterpiece, then it is put into use as it was intended. If created for one purpose, but used for another, is the unique design of the masterpiece fulfilled? No, it is 'useful', but not to the degree it was intended. We need to be sensitive to the purpose God has created us to fulfill. Some will think this means they have to have some super-spiritual calling, like missionary or preacher, but we ALL have a design and a purpose. Schoolteacher, nurse, mother, police officer, the list goes on. All must put to use their specific talents - even those we label as 'regular' or 'skills'. What is amazing is that God creates us ANEW. In Christ Jesus, we come to t...
I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (John 15:1-4 NLT) Remain in me - attempting to live life apart from deep, personal connection with Jesus is fruitless - literally! We can try to live on the coat tails of another who is deeply in love with Jesus, but that just won't produce much within us or through us. It will keep us exactly where the devil wants us to be, though! It will mean we don't make that connection ourselves, being spoon fed what little we learn about Jesus, never really coming to the place where we are fed at the feet of Jesus ourselves. The message of truth comes to us. We are ...