Made to Do Good for God 为上帝做好事
Dexu Xia
We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10
Today's Scripture Ephesians 2L6-10
Today's Insights The creation account in Genesis says that “God created mankind in his own image” (1:27). Ephesians 2:10 also declares that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Jesus set the example for us during His earthly ministry by doing “many good works from the Father” (John 10:32). Peter elaborates and says: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, . . . he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). As believers in Christ, the Spirit will provide the opportunities and empowerment to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and do good works. The fruit of the Spirit’s work in us is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Today's Devotional At first, I ignored the card fluttering to the ground. The father and his little girl who dropped it were just twenty feet away, and I was late for work. Surely they would have realized it, I told myself. But they kept walking. My conscience got the better of me, and I went over to pick it up. It was a prepaid bus ride pass. When I gave it to them, their effusive thanks left me feeling unexpectedly satisfied. Why do I feel so good about doing such a small thing? I wondered. It turns out that the human body produces chemicals that improve our mood when we’re kind to others. We’re made to feel good when we do good! That’s not surprising, because we were created by a good God who made us to be like Him. Ephesians 2:10 shows us that blessing others is a part of our very purpose: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This verse doesn’t simply give an instruction to do good; in a way, it also reflects a part of our God-made nature. We don’t have to be doing great things all the time. If we do something small to help others in our daily lives, we not only get the reward of satisfaction, but we also know that we’re pleasing God—doing exactly what He made us to do.
Reflect & Pray
Who needs a helping hand or an encouraging word? What kind word or simple gesture can you extend to a friend, colleague, or neighbor?
Dear Father, please open my eyes to see how I can be kind to someone today.
by Leslie Koh
“我们原是上帝的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善。”（以弗所书 2:10 ）
今日经文 以弗所书 26章6-10节
今日心得 在创世纪中关于创造的记载说“上帝按照自己的形象创造了人类”（1:27）。以弗所书 2:10 还宣称“我们是上帝的杰作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是上帝预备叫我们行的。”耶稣在地上传道期间为我们树立了榜样，做了“来自父的许多善事”（约翰福音 10:32）。彼得详细阐述道：“上帝以圣灵和能力膏拿撒勒人耶稣……他周流四方行善事，医好凡被魔鬼压制的人，因为上帝与他同在”（使徒行传 10:38）。作为基督的信徒，圣灵将提供机会和力量，让我们追随耶稣的脚步，行善。圣灵在我们里面工作的果实是“仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔和节制”（加拉太书 5:22-23）。
今日灵修 起初，我没有理会飘落到地上的卡片。掉卡片的父亲和他的小女儿离我只有二十英尺远，而我上班要迟到了。我告诉自己，他们肯定会意识到这一点。但他们继续走着。我的良心占了上风，我走过去捡起卡片。这是一张预付的公交车票。当我把卡交给他们时，他们热情洋溢的感谢让我感到意外的满足。我很奇怪，为什么替别人做这么小的事，会使我感觉这么好。 原来，当我们善待他人时，人体会产生能改善我们情绪的化学物质。所以，当我们做好事时，我们会感觉很好！
这并不奇怪，因为我们是由一位善良的上帝创造的，他让我们像他一样。 以弗所书 2:10 告诉我们，祝福他人是我们被创造的目的之一：“我们原是他所造之物，是在基督耶稣里造成的，为要行善，就是神所预备叫我们行的。”这节经文不仅仅是指示我们行善；在某种程度上，它也反映了我们上帝创造的本性。我们不必一直做伟大的事情。如果我们在日常生活中做一些小事来帮助别人，我们不仅会得到满足的回报，而且我们也知道我们在取悦上帝——做他让我们做的事。
反思和祈祷 谁需要帮助或鼓励的话？你能向朋友、同事或邻居说些什么好话或做个简单的举动？ 亲爱的天父，请打开我的眼睛，看看我今天可以如何善待别人。