Endowed with gifts, to do His work

A Devotion by Joe G

November 20, 2022

“Endowed with gifts, to do His work.”

Ephesians 2:10; John 13:34-35

For those of you who don’t live in Florida, the photo above is a night-time rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center. I’m very blessed, as I only have to walk out the door of my home to see, hear and experience a rocket launch. Oh, and yes, I did take the photo from my driveway.

It’s pretty amazing when you think about it. It’s only been a little over 60 years that we’ve been sending men and women into space. I remember watching the Apollo astronauts landing on the moon in 1969, then the first Space Shuttle launch and landing. Now we’re working toward colonizing the moon and beyond.

This isn’t science fiction; this is real. It takes thousands of men and women working together and using their gifts to accomplish the common goal of space flight and exploration. And, as the fictional captain of the Star Ship Enterprise would say, “To Go where no (man) one has gone before.”

********************* Here’s the Point*********************

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

One could argue whether space exploration is something God wants us to do. And whether those who work together as a launch team have been endowed with God-given gifts to accomplish just that.

If you read stories from our country’s history, it seems we have always had inquiring minds as a nation and a world. We ask the questions: why, how, where, and what if, quite often. So, does space exploration fall into those asked questions? I believe it does.

But space exploration is but a small part of the good works we were prepared by God to do.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

With our God-given spiritual life, we respond to God’s love through praise, worship, and good works. Doing good works for others shows appreciation for all God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The best part of the good works we do in Christ’s name is that we do them out of love, not for salvation. Salvation has already been taken care of with Christ’s death and resurrection. No amount of good works can save us, so boasting about doing good is not only not helpful, but it is admonished by God.

Jesus said:

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

If we love one another, we should also do good work for one another. For example, helping a friend, sharing a meal with someone, listening to another’s problems, giving to the less fortunate, and putting others’ needs before our own. These are all good works we can and should do in Christ’s name to help others as we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear Jesus. You have set an example for everyone to do good work for others. Help us to follow in your footsteps as we listen, support, and help others, so we, like You, may be a servant to all.