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
For 5 days, we woke up with the sun, brushed our teeth, washed our face, put on our VBS shirts, packed the kids in the car and drove out to church. It was tiring, but glorious as months of laboring in love were coming to fruition. In the last few years, I was front and center for our VBS because it was hard to find volunteers who were willing to lead children virtually. This year, I stayed very much behind the scenes and while the busyness of our few hours together kept me going, there was one thing that I kept my eye on for the week. Our key passage for the week was from Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” This word workmanship, I kept pausing at and I have to pause at it again today.
I’m reminded about one particular moment in my life because of the way it made me feel. It was before our wedding. My mother in law was gracious enough to gift me a hanbok, a Korean traditional dress that I was to wear at the wedding during a traditional ceremony. I knew immediately that I wanted some kind of pink color, because pink and red were the color theme of our winter wedding. The seamstress told me that I could not have pink, because it would not look good for my size. As she took my measurements, she proceeded to comment on how long my arms were, “I’ve never seen anyone with such long arms. Have you never been told that your arms are long?” I politely smiled, but answered “no, I’ve never been told this.” When we finally got the custom tailored dress, it was 2 sizes larger and in a color that I didn’t like, but I didn’t complain, because it was a gift. She told my mother-in-law that she sized it larger so that I could grow into it. (Granted I’m a grown woman, so she meant that I would get fatter and she was anticipating this.) Boy, the way this woman wanted me to feel. For whatever reason, she had it out for me that day or maybe she was just being herself, showing what she valued as important—beauty according to her standards. Either way, she had set me out on this path. And in light of many stories like this in my life, I have to go back to this word, “workmanship.” Where I have failed in the standards of this world, God has lifted me up in this—For we are HIS workmanship. If I had not known this truth and not been fully grounded in it, I would have probably let this woman get to me. Unfortunately for her, I had been through many and many of these situations up to that point. God had used each painful hurtful situation to mold me as if by fire, His masterpiece in Christ Jesus.
His Workmanship
I have to admit though that as I sat with Ephesians 2:10 that week, I couldn’t help, but be moved that God himself, sees little ole me as His workmanship. It’s still unbelievable to me as I struggle with different issues as a 45 year old woman. And so I was thankful for this theme and I wanted so badly for my children and all the children to go away from this VBS knowing how loved they are. I just think about the messages that they may hear on a daily basis that attempt to define who they are. Messages that mold and shape them and that will live with them for their lifetime.
“You’re just a _____” We could fill in the blank with so many things—child, girl, boy, etc.
Or “You’re too ____” little, big, silly, etc.
Maybe it’s “Your worth is in ____” how great your life is, how much fun you have, how hard you work, how you excel, how much better you are than everyone else.
And it goes beyond self-worth. It starts with how they were created—to be in relationship with God. To know they are fully accepted and loved by Him through Christ Jesus.
In 2023, let’s tell ourselves and our children over and over, “we are His workmanship.”
Created In Christ Jesus
During this Advent season, I was able to meditate on what it means that Christ was in the beginning (John 1:1) and that He has no end—what it means that He is preeminent. And I’ve had to ask myself, why is this important to me and what does this mean for me and my relationship with God. First, it means to me that He is God. I don’t completely understand the Trinity, but what I do know is that because He was with God in the beginning there was a plan that was made for me, for my salvation. That Jesus humbled Himself to become man and He did it willingly. In this Christ, I was created. He has authority over creation. Authority over the world. Authority over my life. And I can fully trust Him. How differently my day would look if I could continue to remind myself of this. How differently would I treat my children? How different my decisions would be.
…For Good Works, which God Prepared Beforehand
As an older child, I always wished I had an older brother. One that would protect me from bullies and as a teen girl from the boys “who only wanted one thing.” I wanted someone who had gone before me, who experienced all the things I was going to go through to warn me about some pitfalls in life. Alas, I didn’t have this, but I find comfort in this for myself and my children. He has prepared us for good works. It’s not defined for us in a job or a ministry. It’s broad, but He prepared them for us and planned that we should do these good works. If this is important enough for God to prepare them beforehand, shouldn’t I do everything in my willpower to make this possible for myself and for my children. At the very least, not hinder them toward good works.
That We Should Walk In Them
In a self absorbed world, I find it already so difficult to take my naturally selfish children to have them look to God and look to others. It is taking me to live it out for them in my life as well as disciple them intentionally to acknowledge and repent of their selfishness, as I too repent of this. It is not easy, but a worthy and humbling endeavor and I trust that He is doing the work in them through His Holy Spirit. As He has planned these good works for them beforehand “that [they] should walk in them.” When the time comes for them to do “good works” may they just be ready to walk in them. May it come as easily as putting on their clothes and shoes to go about their day. I pray this for us all for 2023 and beyond. May we reframe 2023 in this way, that we as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, walk in a year where we do “good works” which God planned for us beforehand. In essence, to live out the path that God has destined for us. May we not walk any other paths set before us.
Without promising too much, I will continue sharing throughout 2023. Here are the topics at hand that I will be working on for Setting the Stage.
I also have created another newsletter, specifically for parents of younger children called, “In this Season”—When your schedule is dictated by when little ones nap to find time for yourself and you're wondering when you'll fit in time with God. Here's a newletter for some encouragement for what I call the "Littles' Years." You will have to subscribe to this seperately, so be on the lookout for the first newsletter. My heart goes out to parents in this season for so many reasons. I hope this will be an encouragement.
Happy new year everyone! Until next time, I’ll save a seat for you at the table. Can’t wait…
This is so good, Rosy. Thank you.