The Transforming Word of God

    What do you think of when you think of good works? My first thought is of Mother Theresa. Or a medical missionary to the jungles of Africa or South America. Or maybe someone who courageously works with the homeless. Something tangible. Something with results that show. Something big and difficult.     So when I looked more closely at Ephesians 2:10, I was intimidated. Such a familiar verse, but it never had me questioning myself before. The verse reads like this: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”     Walk in them? That would mean that good works are just a way of life for me.  Matthew Henry wrote that to walk in good works is to “glorify God by an exemplary conversation and by our perseverance in holiness.”     And apparently the Apostle Paul thought good works were extremely important, judging by the frequency of his call to do them. Notice:     1 Timothy 2:9-10 tells us to adorn oursel

Why do I always feel as though my life isn't my own? Someone always needs something from me. Friends and family need a listening ear. Housework beckons and is never done. I need to stop what I'm enjoying to fix a timely meal. You know how it goes. And it is nice to be needed. Just as any mother knows, hearing "Mommy" this and "Mommy" that often wears on her nerves, yet she wouldn't have it any other way. And it's nice to know that someone values your advice or your time or your efforts. But, sometimes... Just why do I think my life should be my own? The truth of the matter is, my life is not my own. First, I belong to God. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV). And because I belong to Him, I am "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29, ESV). Jesus Himself said that "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" (Matthew 20:28 ESV