You are God's Masterpiece

Have you ever been so busy serving God that you wondered if what you did destroyed His work in you or reflected His work in you? Be encouraged. God conceived and began a good work in each of us. He created us to do good works and He continues to work in us. We are laborers together with God.

Maybe we should look to Christ and stop trying so hard to be like Him. If we spend time with Him, listen and pray, we will become like Him without all the strife and struggle. By rejoicing in God we will carry out His plan in exciting ways with things He has prepared for us to do.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Ephesians 2:9-11

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for trusting us with your work. Help us to understand that we are your masterpiece and that you find favor in us. Let that be our confidence and encouragement to keep on keeping on. Amen.

Christ Born in Us

Mary gave birth to the Son of God by the Holy Spirit. The angel said to Mary, "You have found favor with God," and she responded, "I am the Lord's servant."

Each of us has also found favor with God because He loved us so much He sent His only Son to redeem us from our sin to a forever life with Him. When we accept that He did that for us personally, our response to the love He lavishes on us will be to carry His Son in our hearts and take the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth. Like Mary, we deliver Christ with our own set of gifts, talents and resources.

Prayer
Lord, here I am. Send me--only with your help, for I cannot hope to do this on my own. Expand the boundaries of my ministry so more people will come to experience your amazing love. Amen.