Created With a Purpose: Work as Worship

There is a powerful message in Ephesians 2:10 that I think we need to be reminded of in seasons where we struggle with our purpose. Paul says in verse 10:

 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

The Greek word for workmanship “poiéma” means crafted by God himself. Some translations say we are God’s masterpiece. In other words, we have intrinsic value and purpose in God’s eyes. Created for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Understanding the phrase “so that we would walk in them” is the key to understanding our divine purpose. The phrase “walk in them” in the Greek is “peripateo”. It literally means to walk about, to conduct one’s life in a certain way, and make use of opportunities as you are walking about. In simple terms, it’s living for Jesus wherever you go and carrying the good news of the gospel with you into every aspect of your life. This is your God-given purpose! In being radically changed by God’s amazing grace, you go about each day doing good works wherever you are that bring glory to Jesus Christ and communicate the good news of the gospel to a hopeless world.

In other words, we need to see whatever work we are doing as worship. Our ministry is not just what we do at church on Sunday mornings. I am not sure we understand that clearly enough sometimes. We have a function within the body of Christ and we need to be serving in the local church, but our greatest ministry is outside the walls of the church building. Collectively as the Church, we have the opportunity every day to bring the gospel to places like trucking industry, the medical community, fortune 500 companies, municipalities, the military, family-owned business, retail chains, the food industry, schools, college campuses, and our social groups. 

Practically, this looks like loving other people around you who seem to be unlovable because God loved you when you were unlovable. It means extending grace to people when they make mistakes and destructive life choices because God extended his grace to you in your brokenness. It means refraining from passing judgement on other people because even Jesus didn’t come to judge the world, he came to save it. It means loving your enemies, and turning the other cheek. It’s rejoicing with those who are happy and weeping with those who weep. It means praying for other people and asking for forgiveness from others when we’ve done wrong. Jesus said as his followers that “14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” This is our God given purpose!