Extreme Makeover World Edition
Monday, February 27, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I come to You today and I worship You. Thank You for saving me by Your grace and mercy. Because You’ve done this for me, I ask that You would enable me to do “good works” which will help to build Your Kingdom. Help me to fulfill all the things You’ve planned in advance for me to do. I ask this in Jesus’ name. . . Amen.
God’s Word Today—Matthew 25:34-40
34 “Then the King will say to those on the right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? 40 And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”
Reflecting on God’s Word
God has called all of us to “good works.” We’re not saved because we do good works, because there’s nothing we could ever do which would earn our way into heaven by ourselves. It’s only by God’s grace that we are saved, through faith in Jesus Christ. When we’re saved, however, “good works” become the overflow. They’re the result of a grace-filled life. Good works don’t lead to salvation, but salvation always leads us to good works! The Bible says that “faith without works is dead.” If we call ourselves “Christians,” then there must be good works – or “fruit” – which verify that reality!
In our culture there are many people who are doing “good works.” The primary issue of their “goodness” is whether or not they are doing these things in the name of Jesus Christ. If not, God will look at these works on judgment day as “filthy rags” – as meaningless. If, however, people do works in Jesus’ name, God will richly reward them. In who’s name are you doing good works? Are you doing good works to build up yourself or God’s Kingdom? How we answer this question will determine, ultimately whether these works are truly “good.”
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Read Ephesians 2:10. What did God prepare in advance for us to do?
Why does God prepare this in advance?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
What “good works” is God preparing for you to do today?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Are you by nature, a “planner?” If so, how hard is it for your plans to be interrupted?
Did Jesus’ plans ever get interrupted? How did He respond?
Do you think that God has a “higher” plan for you today, other than your own plans? How so?
Thoughts
So often we are consumed with our own agenda. We have a list of twenty things we need to get done for the day, and if anything interrupts our agenda, we frequently get upset. The challenge for all of us is to be able to, at times, set our agenda aside and ask God to infuse within us a heart which sees the needs of those around us. Many times we miss those needs, because we only see what we want to see – namely our big plan. God’s calling us to set aside our plans and be consumed with His holy plan. He wants to do an “extreme makeover” on planet earth, and He’s calling us to be a part of that makeover! The makeover begins when we’re willing to let go of our agenda for His.
Being consumed with God’s agenda means that we intentional in what we think, say, and do. We aren’t wasting precious time away with things that are not really important. At some point we have to say, is cleaning the kitchen more important than calling a friend in need? Or – is being on-time more important than talking to a person who needs our encouragement? There are questions that we have to ask daily. As we continually yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He will guide us in every decision so that we glorify God in all things.