Poetry From God Series

POETRY FROM GOD

EPH 2:10

The Greek word translated “workmanship” is poiema, from which we derive our English word “poem.” It means “that which is made, a manufactured product.”

Because I’m a guy, I must hold the television remote control in my hand while I watch TV. If the thing has been misplaced, I’ll miss a whole show looking for it, though one time I was able to survive by holding a

calculator.

Because I’m a guy, when I lock my keys in the car I will fiddle with a wire clothes hanger and ignore your suggestions that we call a road service until long after hypothermia has set in. Oh, and when the car isn’t running very well, I will pop the hood and stare at the engine as if I know what I’m looking at. If another guy shows up, one of us will say to the other, "I used to be able to fix these things, but now with all these computers and everything, I wouldn’t know where to start."

Because I’m a guy, when I catch a cold I need someone to bring me soup and take care of me while I lie in bed and moan. You never get as sick as I do, so for you this isn’t an issue.

Because I’m a guy, I can be relied upon to purchase basic groceries at the store, like milk, or bread. I cannot be expected to find exotic items like "Cumin" or "Tofu." For all I know these are the same thing.

Because I’m a guy, when one of our appliances stops working I will insist on taking it apart, despite evidence that this will just cost me twice as much once the repair person gets here and has to put it back together.

Because I’m a guy, I don’t think we’re all that lost, and no, I don’t think we should stop and ask someone. Why would you listen to a complete stranger -- how in the world could HE know where we’re going?

Because I’m a guy, whatever you got your mother for Mother’s Day is ok, I don’t need to see it. Did you remember to pick up something for my mom, too?

Because I’m a guy, you don’t have to ask me if I liked the movie. Chances are, if you’re crying at the end of it, I didn’t.

Because I’m a guy, I think what you’re wearing is fine. I thought what you were wearing five minutes ago was fine, too. Either pair of shoes is fine. With the belt or without it looks fine. Your hair is fine. You look

fine. Can we just go now?

Because I’m a guy and this is, after all, the 21st century, I will share equally in the housework. You do the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, and the dishes. I’ll do the rest.

It does seem that a lot of behavior on the part of men can be explained with the simple phrase "it’s because I’m a guy -- that says it all".

Likewise, a lot of the behavior we as Christians exhibit in the workplace, at home, or at school, should be explainable by the phrase, "it’s because I’m a child of God". That says it all -- that’s why I do what I do and say what I say.

I. CHRIST EQUIPS US FOR GOOD WORKS

A) By saving us---He has brought us to life and given us a new nature on which to draw.

B) By His Word I Thes 2:13

C) By Prayer Eph 3:21-21

D) By Trials I Peter 4:11-14

II. CHRIST ENERGIZES US FOR GOOD WORKS

A) The Bibles tells us about several different “works” which are not good.

1. The works of the law which cannot save.

2. The works of the flesh which are sinful

3. Dead works

4. The works of righteousness which refer to religious works or good deeds that unbelievers do in an attempt to earn salvation.

B) The good works of the believer glorify God not oneself.

C) We do not manufacture these works…they are a natural outpouring of Christ working through us.

D) They are evidence of our salvation.

E) They are a testimony to the lost.

The other day I came home from work to find a plate of peanut-butter snack bars on the kitchen counter. Accompanying the delectables was a note from my 12-year-old daughter Melissa to her grandparents. “Dear Grandma and Grandpa, I made these for you. Love, Melissa.” No one told her to do this. She didn’t have to. She just did it. But why? Was Melissa trying make sure that they loved her? Was she trying to win Brownie points (well, snack -bar points) with her grandparents? No she cooked up this little confectionery delight just to show her grandparents she loves them. It was evidence of their close relationship. She did it because she is their granddaughter, not to somehow earn the right to be their granddaughter.