We Are His Workmanship: Living for Good Works

Devotional

Day 1: God’s purpose prevails even when our plans change.

We often make detailed plans for our lives, convinced we know the best path forward. Yet, circumstances can shift in an instant, closing doors we were certain were God’s will. In these moments of confusion and redirection, it is vital to remember that the Lord’s understanding is infinitely greater than our own. His purpose is not derailed by our changed plans; rather, He is orchestrating a greater story that we cannot yet see. Trust that He is leading you even when the path seems unfamiliar. [26:14]

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

Reflection: When has a closed door in your life eventually led to a better, God-ordained opportunity? How does that experience encourage you to trust His guidance with your current plans?

Day 2: God’s provision is certain even when resources are unseen.

Stepping out in faith often requires acting before we see how God will provide. We may feel unequipped for the task He has called us to, with no visible means to accomplish it. Yet, our God is not limited by our bank accounts, our abilities, or our timelines. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is faithful to supply every need according to His glorious riches. Our part is to obey in faith, trusting that He will provide exactly what is needed at the perfect time. [32:36]

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

Reflection: What is a specific need you are facing right now where you are struggling to see God’s provision? How can you actively choose to trust in His faithfulness today?

Day 3: You are God’s intentional creation, not a cosmic accident.

In a world that often suggests life is random, the truth of Scripture stands firm: you are here by divine design. You were not mass-produced nor are you an afterthought. The Creator of the universe knit you together with purpose and intention. Your life has inherent meaning and value because you are the workmanship of God, crafted for a relationship with Him and for the good works He prepared for you. Your existence is a deliberate act of a loving God. [39:54]

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14 ESV)

Reflection: How does the truth that you were intentionally created by God change the way you view your inherent value and purpose on a daily basis?

Day 4: God redeems our past to give us a new purpose.

Your history does not have to define your destiny. Before Christ, we all walked according to the ways of this world, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and mind. But God, in His rich mercy and great love, has made us alive together with Christ. He specializes in taking broken, messy lives and transforming them into testimonies of His grace. He does not just forgive our past; He redeems it and uses it for a greater purpose in His kingdom. [54:17]

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)

Reflection: What part of your story—a struggle, a mistake, or a pain—do you believe God can redeem and use to encourage someone else who is walking a similar path?

Day 5: We are saved not by good works, but for good works.

Our salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith in Christ Jesus. It is not something we can earn through our own effort or moral achievement. Yet, this free gift comes with a purpose. We are saved from sin and death so that we can be saved for a life of good works. These works are not the root of our salvation, but they are the inevitable fruit of it. God has prepared these good works in advance for us to walk in them as a natural response to His love. [01:03:09]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific, practical "good work" God has prepared for you to walk in this week, perhaps in your family, workplace, or community?

Sermon Summary

Missionary roots in the Caribbean form the backbone of a testimony that traces childhood overseas, decades of ministry since 2008, and a long-term focus on Puerto Rico. Persistent doors and closed doors shaped placement: initial plans for Trinidad shifted by circumstances, and ministry pivoted to Mayagüez where Spanish language and COVID restrictions complicated church planting. Low contacts and odd encounters marked the early effort, but a providential meeting with a woman named Lucy led to the discovery of an abandoned downtown building. The space carried a sudden, tangible sense of God's presence; prayer, speaking in tongues, and an offering to purchase followed. Funds arrived within weeks, renovations began, and a gathered congregation slowly formed, fueling a sense that revival could flow outward from Mayagüez across the island.

The narrative moves from practical mission work to theological reflection on purpose and creation. An extended analogy using bales of hay and mango trees underscores the point that things do not simply appear by chance; crafted processes and intentional design undergird the world. The fall explains current disorder—thorns, disease, and predators—but does not erase original intent: creation and humanity still serve a designed purpose. Ephesians 2:10 anchors the message: humanity exists as workmanship in Christ, created for good works that God prepared beforehand.

Redemption emerges as the organizing theme. God’s prior planning and the Lamb's atoning work set the stage for both the restoration of creation and transformation of human hearts. The Spirit quickens those dead in trespasses and calls people into useful, redeeming labor. Practical implications follow: testimonies should point to what God can do for anyone, not merely recount personal victory; believers must act as salt and light in a world living without instruction; and ordinary places and occupations serve as venues for divine purpose.

The account closes with urgent pastoral appeal: uphold missionary families in prayer, recognize personal struggles and health needs, and respond to God’s call by sharing redemption with others. The altar invitation frames immediate response—seek God now, commit to sharing what God has done, and step into the good works already prepared.

Key Takeaways

1. Life is not accidental Life and the created order reflect intention and craftsmanship, not random emergence. Observing processes—from orchards to baled hay—reveals underlying design and purpose, inviting a posture of stewardship rather than apathy. This conviction reshapes daily decisions: ordinary work and relationships become arenas for fulfilling divine intent. [48:14]
2. Created for good works and service Creation and redemption orient toward action: being made in Christ issues in vocation, not merely identity. The call centers on walking in works God foreordained—actions that reveal grace in practical, often humble ways. Purpose finds expression in consistent, service-driven obedience rather than performance-driven salvation. [40:17]
3. Redemption precedes full restoration Sin disrupted original flourishing, yet redemption already operates as the hinge toward cosmic renewal. The Spirit raises the dead in trespasses, initiating personal and material restoration that anticipates creation’s renewal. Patience accompanies hope: present suffering does not negate the promised reversal of the fall. [52:56]
4. Testimony as invitation, not bragging Personal stories function as portals to Christ, not trophies of moral achievement. Honest accounts should highlight what God accomplished, inviting others into the same transforming work rather than elevating individual merit. Simple, vulnerable sharing often opens hearts more than polished rhetoric. [64:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:30] - Caribbean background and ministry roots
[26:14] - Closed doors and redirection from Trinidad
[28:34] - Challenges planting in Mayagüez
[31:07] - Meeting Lucy and finding the building
[32:36] - Funds, renovation, and gathered church
[39:54] - Hay analogy: purpose in creation
[40:17] - Ephesians 2:10 — Created for good works
[63:09] - Final charge and altar invitation

Bible Study Guide

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

Observation questions

What does the term "workmanship" imply about how God views us and our origin?
According to the verse, what is the specific purpose for which we were created in Christ Jesus?
The verse states that these good works were "prepared beforehand." What does this suggest about God's nature and involvement in our lives?
The sermon used the analogy of a bale of hay not appearing by chance [39:54]. How does this analogy connect to the idea of being God's "workmanship"?

Interpretation questions

How does the truth that we are God's workmanship, and not a product of chance, change a person's view of their self-worth and daily life?
The fall introduced thorns, disease, and disorder into creation [46:04]. How does being "created in Christ Jesus for good works" serve as an answer to the brokenness caused by the fall?
If the good works are something we are to "walk in," what does that imply about the nature of these works? Are they a single event or a continual way of life?
The sermon suggests our testimony should highlight what God can do for anyone, not just our personal victory [01:04:30]. How does Ephesians 2:10 support this view of testimony?

Application questions

Since life is not an accident and you are God's workmanship, what is one area of your daily routine or work that you can begin to see as a place for fulfilling divine intent?
The good works God prepared are often found in humble, practical service [40:17]. What is one simple, practical act of service you can perform for someone this week that would reveal God's grace?
"Walking in" good works implies a consistent journey. What is one habit or rhythm you could establish to help you walk more consistently in the good works God has for you, rather than relying on moments of high motivation?
How can you share the "greatest testimony"—that God came in the flesh to redeem us [01:04:52]—with someone this week in a way that is an invitation rather than a performance?
The world is living without a manual [58:08]. In your sphere of influence (work, family, neighborhood), who is someone who might be trying to "figure it out on their own," and how can you be salt and light to them by pointing them toward God's instruction?
God often uses closed doors to redirect us to his purpose, as seen in the shift from Trinidad to Puerto Rico [26:14]. Is there a recent disappointment or closed door in your life that you need to re-examine to see if God is redirecting you toward a good work he prepared for you?

Sermon Clips

But you were not created to just exist. You didn't just pop on the scene. God created you for a reason. I truly believe that God wants to help you help somebody else. I I truly believe that each and every one of us can impact someone's life. That we can share what God has done in our life. How God has transformed us. How God has cleansed us. How God has started us on the right way. Again, we're I'm not saying you gotta be perfect. You don't have to have it all figured out yet for you to talk to someone and say, hey, look where I was. Look where God brought me from. [01:01:37] (46 seconds) #ShareYourTestimony

I'm not there for that. I'm there because I believe god wants to save and redeem people. That god wants to transform people. That god wants to change people. That god wants to take people from where they are in their sinful place, in in in their in just messed up places And he wants to take us and make us into something that is great. He wants to take us out of the dump, out of the out of the sewer per se. You know, out of the the the ditch. And he wants to take us and clean us off and and and clean us up and transform us into something that is that is marvelous, that is useful in his kingdom. [00:52:21] (36 seconds) #TransformedAndRedeemed

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the purpose of human creation?

What does it mean to be God's workmanship?

How does creation anticipate its final redemption?