https://odb.org/2026/07/23/prepared-to-help
Ephesians 2:1–10 (NIV): 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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.
My friend needed to practice parallel parking before her driving test. I was prayerfully looking for a safe place to teach her when the idea came to go to a neighborhood church with an ample parking lot. After we set up what turned out to be a less-than-ideal practice parking space using folding chairs, she made her first attempt to back into the spot between the chairs. Then the pastor came out with orange cones in hand, similar to the kind used in a driving test. He introduced himself and asked, “Could you use these cones?” He explained that just last week their church family had discussed ways to help neighbors new to the community. “We talked about letting people use these cones in our parking lot for parking practice.” They had prepared to help others, and what a blessing they were for my friend. Prepared to help others. That’s exactly what God did for us and in us. He “prepared in advance” for us to do good works and care for others (Ephesians 2:10). (Anne Cetas, Our Daily Bread 23rd July 2026)
As much as our works no matter how good or charitable will not be good enough to redeem our sins before God, we are nevertheless created to do good works. The fundamentals of our faith is that salvation is not by works but by the grace of God through the blood of His Son shed on Calvary. So we cannot gain entry into the Kingdom of God by the things we do while we exist as living beings on this earth. But once we have believed in Christ in our hearts and confessed with our lips that He is Lord, we are expected to do good works. As James wisely stated, faith without works is dead (James 2:26). In other words, our faith in Jesus Christ if it doesn’t produce good works is pretty useless as it benefits no one.
God created us to do good works as Paul argues in Ephesians 2:10. In essence, that means at our core we are made to do good, not evil. Perhaps for some of us we had done evil before not only in our past but in the not so recent past. Perhaps every now and then, we give in to the desires of our flesh and allow our old self to take over. We allow resentment and bitterness to take control. We wanted revenge and just retribution ourselves and have in the process sinned against God. If so, we must repent from our sins, seek His forgiveness. For if we confess our sins (and be humble before God), He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9).
While by our very nature as born-again and awaken spiritual beings, we are to do good, God’s plans and purposes for our lives will drive us to do good works, the very same works He created us for. That is why He chose us before the foundations of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4). His plans for us is for good and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
If we faithfully and diligently fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our lives and embrace His calling rigorously, we will definitely do good works. Actual tangible works, not just being a good person to the world around us. Works that will uplift and raise up the spirit and spiritual lives of others. Works that will help Christ mould and mature another person, another believer. If we live our lives in this fashion, we will not only be on the way to life everlasting but we are useful and beneficial to the people and the world around us. That is why Jesus preached that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Ultimately, each and every one of us as believers in Christ are effectively the Kingdom of God! The life of Christ and the glory of God are manifested through our hearts, by our good works! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 