God's Workmanship

During our drive to Ocean City, Maryland last week, we stopped for lunch at a Subway®. As we walked up to the door, we were greeted by a life sized poster of Jarod Fogel. Everyone knows Jared Fogle! Jared tipped the scales at 425 pounds while a student at Indiana University. After unsuccessfully attempting numerous diets, Jared grabbed a nutritional information brochure at his local SUBWAY® restaurant and started a reduced calorie diet by eating two SUBWAY® submarine sandwiches a day. In a year’s time, and by incorporating exercise into his daily routine, Jared lost 245 pounds. Since that success, Jarod has appeared in numerous advertisements for SUBWAY® as the fast-food restaurant promotes itself as the heathy choice among fast-food chains.

I think we would all agree that what Jared accomplished was phenomenal. What a transformation! In the spiritual realm, God wants to transform all of us. In fact, in Ephesians 2:10 we are told that for those among us who have made a faith commitment to follow Jesus Christ we are truly "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared for us in advance to do." God is at work shaping us so that we can fulfill his plan for our lives. Part of this molding process occurs when His Holy Spirit imparts to us spirtual gifts. These gifts are listed for us in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and 1 Peter 4. The key to understanding the gifts is to understand their purpose. They are given to "do the good works which God has prepared for us in advance to do." So whether your spiritual gift is teaching, showing mercy, helps, administration or whatever - you are to use your gift to do what God has laid before you to do ... all by HIS grace and for HIS glory!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj