The Merciful Gift

Ephesians 2:8-10

8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9

not by works, so that no one can boast.

10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

---

This really speaks to me today.

'Works' are of man by the flesh, 'good works' are holy, of God's will. The difference is apparent. But what may not be so apparent is that mercy is what allows us to do good works. God's mercy is what gives us the opportunity to do 'good works'. If God did not give us Jesus Christ, we would not be able to do 'good works', for none can come to the Father except through him.

---

Luke 23:40-43

40

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

41

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

---

Here was a convicted criminal on the cross beside Jesus. And he found faith in Jesus while dying beside him. Because of his faith in Jesus, he was granted an opportunity to 'do a good work'.

There hanging on the cross, the criminal stood up for Jesus. He defended his innocence. And then he showed confidence in the power of God that came through Jesus, by saying 'remember when you come into your kingdom'.

This is a perfect example of how one of God's handiwork, recognized the authority by which he was created, and in such faith, did a 'good work', which God prepared in advance for him to do. This criminal shares in the very salvation that we value. The criminal received holy mercy in a good work that God prepared for him in advance.

Remember that we go into each day blind. We do not know what the day will hold for us. But God knows. He knows the very moment we will die. God knew that criminal would hang on the cross beside Jesus. God knew that criminal's whole life leading up to his crucifixion. God's mercy supplied the criminal an opportunity for a good work. One could say that same opportunity was upon the other criminal as well.

The mercy that is Christ, is made available to all. We know that mercy is witnessed either during our existence or afterwards in sleep. But in the case of that faithful criminal, he feared God, not death. He chose to reconcile himself to God by Christ's authority. Did he recognize this mercy? Likely not. But a mercy it was all the same.

The grace found through Christ's atonement for all sin, is something that has to be recognized by faith. It is the repent that is made in faith that is this recognition. Having said that, we often must repent, because each day comes with more and more temptations and failures. It is not that we are conscious of these sins, but we become aware of them after they have occurred. We also fight sins that we are still blind to, and I believe these sins are overcome when we are ready to bloom a 'good work'.

Again, each of us is the handiwork of God. Each of us came through the authority of Christ, as it is life that is a part of him. We as believers are constantly growing in this holiness. We are not perfect, but by faith under grace, there are times that this perfection comes through us. It is these good works that glorify the Father through the son. These are what will be remembered and bring honor to God's Holy One.

The lesson is this; do not doubt and lose faith when you stumble. Repent and seek to reconcile yourself to God. The Holy Spirit guides us if our sincerity is full. Do not doubt holiness can come through you at any moment. The way to ensure you do not miss this opportunity is to remain loving. For, that too is a gift from God.