For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, 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 so that we would walk in them.

—Ephesians 2:8-10

The closer July gets, it seems the more I reflect on this new season of life my husband and I are entering. This weekend, we traveled to celebrate our coming bundle of joy with our families. The night before the family shower, I found myself again in one of my favorite deep, theological conversations with my brother. 

This time, he was talking about designing a new kind of gospel tract. One that focuses not only on the good news that God provided a way for us to be washed clean of our sin so we can have a relationship with Him, but also on our role in the kingdom and the responsibility that comes along with accepting that role.

A Baby Shower Lesson About Grace, Gifts, and Christian Calling

It was an interesting idea to grapple with, and I got the opportunity to do so a little more the next day at the shower. When we got to the part of the afternoon where my husband and I were opening all the gifts, I noticed something. Our families had been very generous. I can confidently say our baby girl is going to be an absolute fashionista with a wardrobe that rivals the size of mine! But in between the beautiful outfits and adorable bows and shoes, another kind of gift was generously sprinkled.

These gifts weren’t just for fun and the enjoyment of thinking about how cute she would be in that onesie. They were very practical. There was a high chair, a changing pad, a baby grooming kit, a medical kit, and the like. All necessary things that spoke directly to my and my husband’s responsibility as parents of this tiny new life.

The Gifts that Had the Most to Say

While these gifts didn’t get as many oohs and ahhs as the frilly outfits that said, “Daddy’s Little Princess,” my husband and I were just as glad to receive these gifts as the fun stuff. These gifts represented our responsibility as parents, yes, but not in a stressful or daunting. It was empowering and made stepping into the responsibility less daunting and more exciting. That’s what I think it should be like for us as Christians to reckon with the responsibility that comes with entering into a relationship with Christ. 

I think my brother is right that we rarely think about our relationship with Christ as something that comes with responsibility. We’re quick to think about our salvation and the peace we’re offered by Christ. But I don’t think we often stop to consider what comes after accepting Christ or what He expects from us other than to try to live well. 

What It Really Means to Walk in Good Works God Prepared for You

The reality, based on today’s verse, is that each one of us has a role, a responsibility that is tailored to us and the specific season we are in. Before we accepted Christ, before we were born, God had a plan for all the good things He would assign us to do.

It’s not enough to say a prayer and then make sure we go to church regularly and read a chapter in our Bibles each morning. We have a job to do. A job we are uniquely assigned and equipped to do. And step one is to seek out what that job is for this season of our lives.

Why Your Christian Calling Should Feel Empowering, Not Overwhelming

I can see how this truth might seem a bit daunting. It’s definitely more comfortable to settle into our routines and not think about what works God has planned for us next week, month, or year. But there’s so much we miss out on if we choose to let these works slip by us. Certainly, there would be blessings for our obedience, but there’s more to it than that.

If we look at the original word used to refer to the good works God has planned for us, it’s not referring to menial work. It’s referring to work meant to fulfill a purpose. When we choose to step into the good works God chose to ordain specifically to us, what we get in return is the satisfaction and fulfillment that comes with living out our purpose.

And just like the wonderful gifts our friends and family have showered us with that will empower my husband and me to live out our purpose as parents in these initial months, God also gives us every good gift we need to do the job He assigned us.

How to Start Living Out Your God-Given Responsibility in This Season

So let’s make it a goal, starting this week, to look for what God has for us to do. It might be something that seems small to us, like helping someone in need, or it might be something life-changing. But either way, if we’re willing to step into that responsibility, there’s no telling what amazing blessings, adventure, and fulfillment we’ll find on the other end of living out the purpose our heavenly Father has given us.