Whatever

Once a follower of Christ realizes what is going on inside of them, things begin to change all around.  Remember, you are made in God’s image and now His Spirit resides inside of you.  That means you are very special and God has His eye on you always.

Paul realized this and wrote about it in a letter to fellow Christians in a town called Ephesus.  He begins his letter to the Ephesians by reminding his friends just what God has done and how things are radically changed through Jesus.  Words like adoption and family are used to describe who you and I are in Jesus and that God has known about us from the beginning of time.

When I read words like that my simple mind is blown.  How could a God that spoke everything into being and set a redemption plan in motion still care about me.  There isn’t anything special about my life or your life or is there?

In the second chapter of Ephesians we get our answer.  Is there anything special about you and me?  Yes!  A loud and triumphant Yes!  Paul tells us that we are God’s workmanship or handiwork.  Do you understand what that means?

Not only are we made in the image of God, but we are each handcrafted by the master designer.  Maybe you have had to opportunity to watch a master craftsman at work.  It is truly amazing to witness what some one with years a practice and a deep lying passion can create.  Now go far beyond that and you have what God has done in you.

As that begins to roll around in your mind and work its way into your heart something is going to begin to change.  And that change is going to be what you do.  The way you behave.  The way you treat those around you.  Remember, God lives inside of you and you are a work of art made by a loving artist.

Colossians 3:17 tells us what to do with this new found revelation.  “Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”

I absolutely love that!  “Whatever” I do should be done with a big heart of thanksgiving!  Whatever covers a lot of ground.  It means that not just on Sunday or when you and I feel good or right after that awesome new song plays on the radio (or your Spotify playlist) do you shout a big old “thank you Jesus”.  No, everything we do should be done from a place of thankfulness.

Going to the grocery store.  Picking your kids up for school.  Tweaking an Excel spreadsheet for you boss.  Delivering that sales pitch to the new client.  Cooking dinner.  Trimming your toenails.  Mowing the lawn.  I think you get my point - your whatever.

So, today when you are living out the command from Acts 1:8, doing your whatever, come at everything that pops up from an attitude of thankfulness.  Be thankful because you are a work of art made by God.  The same artist that made you lives inside you and whatever you do is for His glory.  

That my friend is world changing!  Any each of us are called to change our world.