But, because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions –… it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(Eph 2.4, 5&8-10)

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(Heb 13.15,16,20&21)

We are saved to serve, not the other way around – good works are the fruit not the foundation of my salvation. I am on a path to glory, and the very act of walking daily along that way is a part of the means by which I am being changed – the daily choice to read the bible and to pray; the weekly choice to gather with others in worship; the willingness to respond to prompts to show love and care.. every small act of service is forming habits which are shaping attitudes, which – God willing – are resulting in lasting change.   

As believers, we are in the business of life-long learning, and it is God who is in charge of both the curriculum and the means by which it is delivered! Each of his children has their own unique path of learning and individual challenges to go through, each has a particular set of skills, strengths and weaknesses through which God – the ultimate teacher as well as the sovereign over all time and space – is bringing our lives into that pattern by which he works all things together for good, for the final revelation of his kingdom and our glorious future.

Perhaps, like me, you struggle with translating these great truths into the humdrum of daily life, and wonder whether you ought to be embarking upon some course of study/ some new discipline or good work, or pattern of life in order to become more mature in faith. We are all a work in progress, and rightly long to be finished! This is not an easy thing to settle; sometimes we are made uneasy in order to prompt us to change things! But I know for myself, all too often it is because I am comparing myself with other people that I feel this sense of lack, of needing to do/learn/perform in a different way. And I am not so sure that those impulses are from my Father. After all, we are human beings, not doings!

My very purpose in life – as the answer to the old catechism question puts it -is ‘to glorify God and enjoy him for ever’. That covers a great deal of ground, and surely leaves room for each and every unique child of God to be different in their own particular expression! It also leaves space for that expression to change in different seasons of our lives – after all, the busy and sleep deprived parents of young children are unlikely to have the energy and peace for prolonged seasons of intercessory prayer, or in-depth bible study! But they do have the task of parenting, of loving and raising children to know their Father in heaven, and to know what the gospel is and why it matters. Those of us in more peaceful seasons can help them by prayer, baby-sitting, and being involved in other practical ways!

We none of us have to do it all, or even be it all… we love, because he first loved us, and we look to take each day as his gift in which there will be good things prepared for us to do – and those might be as simple as noticing and rejoicing in colour, light and warmth; in the full-body joy of a running dog; or the deep-peace inducing sleep of a curled-up cat…

Dear Father, let us love you and be wise in what that looks like day by day. Deliver us from the curse of comparison, to look to you in delight and to give thanks for the abundance of your goodness to us – this is a good work! Let us rest in your sure work of transformation in us, as we live with you and as you work in us that which is pleasing to you – our likeness to Jesus, in whose name we pray, Amen.