S16P4 – Personal lessons from Paul: you are no accident

Eph. 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them.

When I read the teachings of Paul, I cannot help but be amazed by the transformation God brought about in him. It is a transformation that has resulted in so much of our foundational teaching. To think that he was once a staunch enemy of God who murdered Christians without remorse! Then Paul encountered Jesus, and he learned that he was meant for greater things. He was made not to trample on salvation but to teach of its magnificent power and God’s amazing grace.

Paul’s teaching in this verse rivals the worldly teaching of the ages that we are a mere matter of happenstance. That worldly teaching follows the enemy’s strategy of devaluing our humanity by trying to convince us that our existence is no different than that of a tree or a rock or a cloud. That teaching tells us that we just happen to be here, not planned or designed, and destined for nothing greater than what we see before us. But as Paul learned through the transformation that God brought about in him, his life had a purpose. Long before Paul decided to take the lives of Christians, God had ordained that he would one day lead believers closer to Jesus through his teaching.

Just as God had greater things for Paul to walk in, He has greater things for you to walk in. You are no accident. Designed and planned, God placed you here and now for his purposes. He has planned good works for you as you take the journey of sanctification. God is only waiting for you to recognize this and submit to his good and perfect will. God’s transformation of Paul should be sufficient testimony of his power to save and his power to call. Father, remind us daily that we were created by You with intent, planned to do good works for your sake and to stand as a testimony of your transformation power.