Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are crafted by God with gifts and talents, training and experiences, to perform in a manner which glorifies God, good works. If what we do does not glorify God it is not good work.

God knows beforehand, we do not. For us it is a constant seeking His will and what He is doing so that we might be used by God. Just because we want to be used does not mean we will always be the tool that God uses to craft another disciple of Christ.

Our experiences might enlighten our roles because some of our talents need to be refined. Over time we might grow confident in our role and start looking for opportunities to put our talent to work. Looking without seeking God’s will in what we are doing is creating opportunities for self to be gratified. Self-gratification is not pleasing to God, nor does it glorify God.

Look at Ephesians 2:10 again. “Created in Christ Jesus” is a clear indication that all things are done in Him and through Him. If we consider this truth, that God placed all things in Jesus’ hands, then all things belong to Christ. That is an indication that God so loved His Son, that He gave Him the world and all that is in it.

Where does that leave us?

We as His betrothed, we get to walk with Him in covenant partnership.

We have been chosen by God the Father for His Son’s bride. There should be no greater honor, but that does not make us entitled.

John 14:13-15 English Standard Version

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me[or the Father] anything in my name, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

If we ask selfishly and we just might hear God say “That doesn’t sound like my Son!”

2 Timothy 1:7 English Standard Version (ESV) for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Over the years it has been seen that some believe they possess a power that sets them above others, an entitlement. Let it be known, no one is entitled except He who sits on the throne.

I would have preferred 2 Timothy 1:7 to have read “of power to love and self control”, but I don’t get to rewrite the bible, only to understand what the Word does in me.

Apart from God my mortal flesh cannot love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. With God’s helper assisting me, I can choose to obey by faith, that He has the power to allow His love to flow through me, not so much that I actually do the loving, but that Christ can love through me.

It is something akin to fruits of the spirit. They are produced in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us because of who He is, not because of who we are apart from Him.

We were compared to trees early in scripture, “man is like a tree planted” we are rooted and grounded in love. The life of the tree constantly cycles from root to leaf and back to the root again. Without the love nutrient flowing through the limbs no fruit can be produced. Cut off the root and the branch dies, then the tree withers, and fails.

The lie of the enemy says that we have the power to produce fruit.

Apart from God, nothing we do has value to God.

We tend to be proud of our accomplishments but that is not true glory. Glory is the person and presence of Christ in us and if we want to have the light shine on us, we become thieves.

John 10:10 tells us who the real thief is and we should not want to be his tool.