“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

It was Holy Week. For Maundy Thursday, most everything had to be removed to decorate, then be put back the next day. Easter held the promise of the famous ‘Sticky Buns,’ which had to be made first. Every step of the way, there were people in the Church who were there helping to get ready. It was a lot of work that we didn’t HAVE to do… or did we? Now Easter’s over, maybe it’s time to think!

Admittedly, there were times I got tired and a little down. Just a few years ago our church would throw a big breakfast along with the Stick Buns. We cut back on the BIG breakfast when we realized that help was getting harder to find. I realized asking people to do things, only to have them feel bad, or say no, made me disappointed that they didn’t come through. Does Jesus have that same issue?

Being drawn to read Ephesians, I see that Paul had to deal with this same kind of thing in almost every Church he founded. He starts the book off with the most powerful chapter in the Bible… Ephesians 1… by telling me who I AM in Christ. I counted at least 50 benefits! He then goes on to tell what the Godhead is trying to DO with all of us. Then by Chapter 3, he gets into the ‘DO’ verses!

Paul starts Chapter 3 with a couple of hinting ‘do’ things. ‘SURELY’ you’ve Heard! Did I? ‘READ THIS’ to understand! Do I? By firmly placing me in His will, He wants me to understand CLEARLY what He plans for ‘The Church’ and ME. By the middle of Chapter 4 he starts giving me some of the changes God wants to see ME DOING… ‘Speak the truth in love.’ ‘Grow up.’ ‘Put off your OLD self.’ ‘Stop anger!’

As the book continues, so does the intensity of God’s demands. Be Kind! Forgive! Watch your mouth! Care! Stop lusting.’ DON’T GET DRUNK!’ Then, he gets REALLY personal when he calls me out in my job as a husband to ‘LOVE YOUR WIFE!’ And to my wife, ‘HONOR YOUR HUSBAND!’ It goes uphill from there! DO Words. Expectations. Demands. NO exceptions. All with reason to say, ‘NO!’

In the intro I stated that Easter’s over. That was kind of a joke that came from a relief that I’m not now required to put in more extra hours than normal. But is that a true statement? Since I know that Easter was just a beginning for a NEW Life in Christ, what does that Master of ‘my’ Universe actually EXPECT me to Do and BECOME? I believe I just told you what He told ME. And now… you know!