‘We are God’s workmanship,’ says Paul, ‘created in Christ Jesus to do good works…’ (Ephesians 2:10).
The word ‘created’ draws attention to the fact that when we come to Christ the image of God is renewed.
Notice, too, that Paul goes on to say that we can now do the good deeds that God has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). This is an extraordinary statement. It suggests that God has already set out our tasks for us. So we only have to do what God has already prepared for us.
I suppose it is rather like a list of tasks that you might make, if you are a parent, for your child to do. ‘Make the bed, wash the dishes, brush your teeth…’ You choose jobs that you know are within the capacity of your child.
So God designs appropriate ministry for us–all we have to do is what he has arranged for us.
And we know that in Christ, we have the ability to do it, because he has made us able to do what he has set out for us to do.
To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.