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we are an important component of his grand plan
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And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
2017 has begun and no matter what reflections you have from 2016, a new year pronounces 365 new days in a new calendar yet to be filled. This newness often provides the spark of energy people need to make resolutions and offers a dose of hope to those carrying regret or disappointment from 2016. Sometimes the turn of a new year can even be the jump start people desperately need to begin dreaming again.
For many of us, sparks of newness are what we live off of – the new job, the new purchase, the new electronic device, the new relationship, the new nugget of information, the new fill-in-the-blank. What we sometimes forget is that God offers us the biggest spark of newness there ever could be – it’s the spark of new purpose. The Apostle Paul reminds us of our newness when he says, “God, being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4). God offers us the spark of new life and with this gift comes purpose. Paul says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
In Christ, we’ve been made alive and can live with God-given purpose. We can join in God’s redemptive plan. Not just at the beginning of the year or the initial stages of our life with God, but in each new day and for eternity. God doesn’t merely offer us new life because he knows what we deeply desire it or even desperately need it. God offers us new life because he’s got a plan for us. Each of us is an instrumental component of his grand plan. Now, if you want to join in, you can get the incredible opportunity to work for the best boss ever. He’s the greatest professional at redemption and you can join in his plan to implement his dreams of restoring ultimate goodness and spreading eternal life now. Take some time today to dream with God about what part you might play in his grand plan for 2017 and dedicate this year to working with him – not working against him.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]
By Yvonne Biel
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