QT 26/08/2026 Wed Ephesians 2 Masterpiece in the Mirror, Every Morning. 每天早晨, 镜中的杰作。
QT 26/08/2026 Wed Ephesians 2 Masterpiece in the Mirror, Every Morning.
READ https://www.esv.org/Ephesians+2
Do you know you are looking at a masterpiece every morning in the mirror when you comb your hair or putting on foundation? What if I told you God never saved you just to get you into heaven? According to Ephesians 2:10, He saved you His masterpiece a purpose—a purpose He planned long before you were born. Let's discover what that means for your life today.
Scripture (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection on the various phrases
After declaring that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9), Paul immediately explains the place of good works in the Christian life. Good works do not save us—they are the result of God's saving work in us.
The word "workmanship" (Greek: poiēma) speaks of something carefully crafted, a masterpiece made with purpose and skill. Every believer is God's workmanship. Through the new birth, He is reshaping us into the likeness of Christ. Our identity is no longer defined by our past, our failures, or even our achievements, but by what God has made us in His Son.
Paul also says we are "created in Christ Jesus." Just as God created the world by His power, He creates new spiritual life in those who trust Christ. Salvation is not merely self-improvement; it is a new creation. The old life ruled by sin gives way to a new life empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This new life has a purpose: "for good works." Good works are not optional for believers, nor are they a means of earning God's favour. They are the natural fruit of genuine faith. Jesus taught that a healthy tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17). Likewise, those who have been transformed by grace will increasingly display lives marked by love, obedience, generosity, holiness, and service.
Finally, Paul reminds us that these works were "prepared beforehand." God is not making up His plans as we go. In His sovereign wisdom, He has already prepared opportunities for us to glorify Him through acts of faithfulness. Whether serving our families, encouraging a struggling believer, sharing the gospel, working with integrity, or showing kindness to a neighbor, God has ordained countless ways for us to reflect Christ in our daily lives.
Our calling is simple: "that we should walk in them." The Christian life is not about occasional acts of obedience but about a daily pattern of faithful living. We walk one step at a time, trusting the Spirit to guide us into the works our Father has already prepared.
Gospel Truth
The order of the gospel is crucial:
*We are not saved by good works.
*We are saved by grace through faith.
*Having been saved, we are created anew for good works.
Grace is the root; good works are the fruit. When we reverse that order, we either fall into pride or despair. When we keep it in the biblical order, we find both assurance and joyful purpose.
Application
Today, ask God to open your eyes to the good works He has prepared for you. They may not be dramatic or publicly recognized. A word of encouragement, an act of forgiveness, faithful prayer, honest work, generosity toward someone in need, or a conversation about Christ may be exactly what He has planned.
Prayer
Gracious Father, thank You that I am Your workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus. Thank You that my salvation rests entirely on Your grace and not on my own efforts. Help me to live out the new life You have given me by walking faithfully in the good works You have prepared. Give me eyes to see opportunities to love, serve, and glorify You in the ordinary moments of today. May my life display the beauty of Your grace and point others to Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
QT 26/08/2026 星期三 以弗所书 2 每天早晨, 镜中的杰作。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eph/2/
或 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph2%3A1-12&version=CNVS
你知道吗？每当清晨你对着镜子梳头或涂抹粉底时，你所看到的其实是一件杰作。如果我告诉你，上帝拯救你绝不仅仅是为了让你进入天堂，你会作何感想？根据《以弗所书》2:10，祂拯救你——祂的杰作——是有目的的，这个目的早在你出生之前，祂就已经计划好了。让我们一起来探索这对你今天的生活意味着什么。
经文 (以弗所书2:10)
“我们原是 神所作成的，是在基督耶稣里创造的，为的是要我们行各样的善事，就是 神预先所安排的。”
对各句的思考
在宣告救恩是本乎恩，因着信，并非出于行为（以弗所书 2:8–9）之后，保罗随即阐明了善行在基督徒生命中的地位。善行不能拯救我们——它们是神在我们里面拯救工作的结果。
“作成的” 或 “杰作”（希腊语：poiēma）一词指精心雕琢之物，是带着目的和技艺所造的杰作。每位信徒都是神的杰作。借着重生，祂正将我们重塑成基督的样式。我们的身份不再由过去、失败，甚至成就来定义，而是由神在祂的儿子里所造就的我们来定义。
保罗还说，我们是“在基督耶稣里创造的”。正如神凭着大能创造了世界一样，祂也在那些信靠基督的人心中创造了新的属灵生命。得救不仅仅是自我完善；而是一种新造。那受罪所辖制的旧生命，让位于由圣灵赋予能力的新生命。
这种新生命有一个目的：“为行善”。行善对信徒而言并非可有可无，也不是为了赢得神的恩宠。它们是真实信仰的自然果实。耶稣教导说，一棵健康的树会结出好果子（马太福音7:17）。同样，那些被恩典改变的人，会越来越彰显出充满爱、顺服、慷慨、圣洁和服侍的生活。
最后，保罗提醒我们，这些善行是“预先所安排的”。神并非随我们前行才临时制定计划。凭着祂主权的智慧，祂早已为我们预备了机会，让我们能通过信实的行动来荣耀祂。无论是服侍家人、鼓励正经历困境的信徒、传扬福音、秉持诚信工作，还是向邻舍施以仁慈，神都已命定无数种方式，让我们在日常生活中彰显基督的形象。
我们的呼召很简单：就是要我们行在其中。基督徒的生命不在于偶尔的顺服之举，而在于每日信实地生活。我们一步一个脚印地前行，信靠圣灵引导我们进入天父早已预备好的善行之中。
福音真理
福音的顺序至关重要：
*我们并非因善行得救。
*我们是因信称义，靠恩得救。
*得救之后，我们被重造，为要行善。
恩典是根基；善行是果实。当我们颠倒这个顺序时，要么陷入骄傲，要么陷入绝望。当我们遵循圣经的顺序时，便能既得着确据，又得着充满喜乐的人生目标。
应用
今天，求神开启你的眼睛，让你看见祂为你预备的善行。这些善行或许并不惊人，也未必会得到公众的认可。一句鼓励的话、一次宽恕的举动、忠心的祷告、诚实的工作、对有需要之人的慷慨相助，或是关于基督的一次对话，都可能正是祂所计划的。
祷告
恩典的父啊，感谢祢，我是祢的杰作，在基督耶稣里被重造。感谢祢，我的救恩完全基于祢的恩典，而非我自己的努力。求祢帮助我活出祢赐予我的新生命，忠心地行在祢所预备的善事中。求祢赐我一双慧眼，在今天平凡的时刻中看见爱人、服侍人并荣耀祢的机会。愿我的生命彰显祢恩典的美好，并引导他人归向耶稣。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
