Thinking Rightly About God's Thoughts
Daily Reflection: Ephesians 2:10 - 2/19/2024
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. — Ephesians 2:10
A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Perhaps that is true; a close second to that might be, “What comes into our minds when we consider what God thinks about us is vitally important to the way we will live our lives.”
That quote doesn’t sound as cool, but it holds the same weight. For far too long, children of God have held views of their Heavenly Father that suggested a cosmically annoyed and irritated figure: one who was perpetually disappointed with their constant failures.
This understanding of God will necessarily impact one’s relationship with God. As Dallas Willard said,
“[God] often condescends to us because our consciousness cannot rise any higher (clouded as it is by our experiences in a fallen world with our superiors, whether they be parents, bosses, kings or those who stand over us in manipulative "‘love’). And the rule then, as always, is: ‘Let it be done for you according to your faith’” (Matthew 8:13).
In other words, if you think God is a harsh taskmaster, he will condescend to your view of him, because some relation to God is better than none.
However, these thoughts of God do not emerge from God’s self-revelation; no, not from scripture or from the ultimate revelation of God — Jesus Christ. Those sources paint another picture. There we see a God who delights in his children; one who is proud of his creation. Is it too far-fetched to imagine God taking the angels, once again, through his photos to show off his children on earth?
That is the kind of image the Bible suggests of God. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
I’m not a craftsman; I speak and write as my form of creativity. Part of the reason I publish my sermons and articles is because I want people to enjoy what I created. God is no different. As his handiwork, he deigns to put us on display with great joy. For in doing so, he reveals more of himself, in all of his goodness, to a universe that is coming to know him more.
We must learn to see him as he presents himself to us. If we know that God delights in us, we will be liberated to serve him by living out our calling with all the divine resources made available in him.
It is significant that as Jesus’s ministry was beginning, right as he was emerging from the waters of baptism to enter into the barren wilderness, he hears the voice of his Father: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:17)
If the Son of God needed to hear it, how much more will those adopted by God need to know that our Heavenly Father delights in us?
Our Father, who art in heaven, thank you for delighting in us. Forgive us when we prescribe to you thoughts about us that are evil. Grant that we would always have our thoughts of you formed through the perfect revelation of you, Jesus Christ. That, like him, we may serve you with joyful obedience, bearing witness to the grandeur of your name. Amen.
Growing up Catholic, I was taught that Jesus taught love, mercy, and compassion, yet if we sinned, we had to fear for our soul and rush to confession. Thank you for reminding us that God will not strike us dead on a whim without any chance of being forgiven!