History Books in 90 Days: Nehemiah 4-6
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV); For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your
own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.
As we determined yesterday, salvation is a gift made possible by God’s grace alone, and this gift of
grace has nothing to do with us and our works, because we were still wallowing in sin when Jesus’
sacrifice was made. But faith activates God’s grace in our lives, and faith without works (godly
action) is dead.
Godly actions are not things we need to do to catch God’s attention; rather we were created FOR
works! God created you so that you could DO godly things. Before you were born He had great
plans for you. He has an individualized lifetime plan of good works for each one of us to do, and
He will reward us according to whether or not we do them! One day, Jesus will look at those who
demonstrated their faith by their love for Him, and their love by obedience to Him, and He will say,
“Well done!” Not “well believed”; “well done!”
It is revolutionary when we can actually take hold of this awesome truth that God had ideas for us
before we were born. He thought about you and said, “I think I know just the right thing for her...”
“Aha! I have the perfect thing in mind for him!” When you feel as though you are just going through
the motions or if you feel unimportant or bored with life, meditate on this remarkable truth!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you some of the secret thoughts He has about you. God delighted in
making you, and He delights in you now. Have a conversation with Him about the things He
shows you.
2. God planned works for you to do before you were even born.
a. Ask God which of these works you are accomplishing well.
b. Ask God which works you are lagging behind in.
c. Ask God if there are any new things He wants to call you to.
3. Thank God for His wonderful works (Psalm 139:14) and His high thoughts and ways (Isaiah
55:8-9).
