Graced For Purpose
27 August, 2010
Walked past a mirror this morning and got a shock – for some reason my large baby belly still surprises me sometimes! Yes – I am in the ‘new baby season’, one at home and one on the way like many of my friends. My challenge at the moment is that it can be very easy in any season that you are in to disqualify yourself from making a difference. It seems hard enough just to have a shower by the end of the day or brush your hair let alone think about anyone else!
But we have been studying Ephesians in church during August and I was struck by a verse in Ephesians 2 this week which says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – I know – enough in there to preach for a lifetime but I was particularly struck by the last bit!
We have been saved by GRACE for a reason – not because of anything we have done but we have been created to do good works which have been prepared in advance for us. Which means that God knew the season that we would be in right now – whether it be the new baby season, the impoverished student season, the newly married or the retired pensioner season and He prepared good works for us to do now, in THIS season. Not when my mortgage is paid off, not when my babies are out of nappies or sleeping through the night (might never happen for me!) not even when the kids leave home or when I have that perfect job and more money.
God does not limit Himself or what He has for us to do to in our season – I limit myself by assuming God does not understand what my season looks like!
My challenge for this next season of two small babies at home – is to choose to continue to do the good works that GOD prepared in advance for me to do, knowing in advance what season I would find myself in. Whether that be talking to the other mums in the park and telling them about Jesus, or making a meal for a family that are struggling, or just teaching my daughters how to love so that they in turn will make a difference in the lives of others– these good works might not seem to be huge but they were prepared in advance for me to do at this season of my life and that is good enough for me!
Love, Catherine
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