Have you praised your savior today, yet? If not, stop right now and tell him, “Thank you!”
We are once again looking at prayer and worship - the first step in our discipleship process. Part of that process is learning to come daily in worship, recognizing Jesus as our savior and healer. It is not enough for us to come to the Father as a holy and righteous judge. It is not enough to come seeking to be empowered by the Holy Spirit for the work he gives us. Those things are good; they are absolutely necessary. But they are not all there is to it.
Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms-all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
We have a new life! This life is a healing, a restoration to what life really means. Jesus has paid the penalty so that we might daily live in this new life and our worship needs to reflect this. What will this kind of worship look like?
We worship by our obedience, for one. We are no longer ruled by the forces that are opposed to God. Those corrupt lives that were once self-driven have been left on the cross. We are seated with Christ! God is pointing to us as examples of his love. What complete and utter healing, to move from a separated existence to his total favor and kindness. What words can you offer today to tell Jesus you recognize the great price he paid to redeem us; to be your savior?
We are God’s masterpiece - that’s what verse 10 tells us. We are a work in progress, one in which daily healing is occurring. Sometimes that healing is a Band-Aid to cover a wound that needs protection from the environment; dust, water, and other nasties. Sometimes, Jesus has us laid up in the infirmary, cared for by those who know best what is needed - friends, counselors, those who have dealt with whatever injury faces us. Other times, we find ourselves in a cast, movement restricted, but our structure becoming more stable, our form set right. And there are times when we are in surgery. It seems like it is a fight for life itself, and the outcome is unknown. But God, our great healer, is a skilled craftsman, the best doctor in the world.
Whatever trials you see today, Jesus your healer is at work. He is forming and shaping you for better service, for a closer relationship. If today you can’t really see the trial - that cast came off a while back - then thank your savior and adore him; tell others about what your wonderful healer has done.