You are extraordinary (1)

We are not ordinary. God planned us from the beginning of time, for good works. Ephesians 2:10 NIV says, 'For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' When we think of that alongside Philippians 1:6 NIV - 'He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus' - we should understand that we are extraordinary. God does not have mundane plans for us.

Together, these two verses tell us that God has made us to live with Jesus at our centre. He's prepared opportunities for us to do good, and he'll carry on working within us, making us more Jesus-centred. It's great stuff!

But... what about when we don't feel up to the challenge? Sometimes, taking a step to do good takes courage. In today's verses, God hasn't given us a list of 'good things to do' and left us to it; he's with us (in fact, within us), crafting us towards Jesus, helping us make the most of his God-given opportunities. And, a bonus fact, he doesn't give up, ever. It may feel like we've 'missed' a whole bunch of the chances he's given us, but be encouraged that he's still within us, doing his work, to help us do his works.



So what now? Pray for God-opportunities today. When they happen, thank God that he'll use you, extraordinarily, to make them work out well.





— SCRIPTURE —

'He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.' Philippians 1:6 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Matt 5:8, Ps 51:10, Tit 1:15