By Kristy and David Manuel
Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. [14] I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
God created us for two purposes:
1. To have a relationship with him and
2. To do good works!
The Relationship
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Genesis 1:27, 31a
Sometimes, we look, observe, and wonder… “Why did God make me (or him, or her) this or that way”? Our perspective and God’s perspective are often quite different. When we can see what He sees as “very good,” the doors of opportunity, acceptance, and excitement can open.
The Good Works
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
God created us the way he wanted to and can always use our lives to glorify Himself!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
The “in its time” component of this Scripture can be challenging, because of the struggle against time; God’s time and our time in conflict with each other. Waiting for something that we want seldom is easy, especially in this increasingly instant-gratification world we live in. But if can train ourselves to believe, hope, and look for future rewards, we can experience the necessary patience in the present. Remember this: God IS NOT time-bound.
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” - John 9:1-3
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. - Romans 8:26-30
Our minds are very important to God. Regardless of the mind or brain that God gave us in the womb, he expects us to proactively train and keep our mind focused on Him.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. - Romans 12:2a
The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. - Romans 8:6
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13