I’m Free to Be Myself

In review of Ephesians 2:10 I read,  “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)

I became saved through God's unmerited grace, not as a result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on my part. Out of gratitude for this free gift, I should seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please myself. 

While there is no actions or work I can do that can help me obtain salvation, God's intention is that my salvation results in acts of service. I am not merely saved for my own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church. I am God's work of art and workmanship. My salvation is something only God could do. It is his powerful, creative work in me. If God considers me his workmanship, then I dare not treat myself or others with disrespect or as inferior work.

In my typical week, I find myself getting caught up in feeling pressured by others, by their needs, by the things they’re doing, or by what they expect of me.

What I’m understanding this morning, is that If I’m feeling pressured, then there is great news for me: God can set me free from those expectations. It’s normal to feel pressure to live up to other people’s expectations. Living to meet other people’s expectations is a sure way to get myself tied up in a knot. I can’t please everyone, and I certainly can’t win every popularity poll.

Jesus came to set me free from other people’s expectations. Today’s verse from Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT).

In this verse the first part says that I am God’s masterpiece. He made me unique. No one else in the world is like me. And God doesn’t want me to try to be like someone else.

The second part of the verse says that God makes me new in Jesus so I can do what he’s planned for me to do. Therefore living for Christ simplifies my life. When I’m living as God’s masterpiece, I only need to do what he wants. I can let go of all the expectations from others.

Living to please God might seem really difficult, but in reality it’s not that hard. When God makes me new in Christ, he changes my desires. Things that used to tempt me just lose their appeal. Jesus sets me free to be myself.

Now I can say, “My one goal is to serve the Lord.” And if I’m doing that, I’ll be a better parent, a better marriage partner, a better friend, and a better colleague. If I’m pleasing God, then I’m always doing the right thing, and this will make life so much simpler.

In summary, I am God's masterpiece, created new in Christ, so that I can do the good things he planned for me. I became saved through God's unmerited grace, not by anything I have done or will do. Out of gratitude for this free gift, I should seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness. If God considers me he workmanship, then I dare not treat myself or others with disrespect or as being inferior. When I find myself getting caught up in feeling pressured by others, by their needs, by what they are doing and their expectations of me, I can know that God will set me free from these. It will be normal to feel pressure to love up to others expectations. I can't please everyone. Jesus came to set me free from others' expectations. I am God's masterpiece, unique, no one else is like me. God doesn't want me to try to be like anyone else. God makes me new so that I can do what he has planned for me to do. I only need to do what he wants. I can let go of expectations from others. If I make my goal to serve the Lord, I'll be in his will and doing the right thing. This will make life so much simpler.

I need to consider what expectations I’m living for today, the areas I feel pressured in, such as work. I pray this morning Father that you help set me free from these expectations and especially the ones that don’t match yours. My mission statement in life has been to, “live with integrity and make a difference in the lives of others.” I pray that you help remind me of this in what I do, and how I approach everything in life. I pray for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership of others and to accomplish the high value projects ahead of me. This things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.