According to the Bible, God prepared good works beforehand for us (Ephesians 2:10). But how do we discover these works and how can we know we do God’s will?
Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit
Jesus compared His relationship with His followers to that of a vine with its branches (John 15:5). The Holy Spirit is the life that flows through the vine to the branches. He is the One who takes from God’s abundance and passes it on to us. The Holy Spirit makes the riches of the Father and the Son available to us.
Guided by the Holy Spirit
Jesus told His disciples about the Holy Spirit: “He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak […] He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-14). One of the most important tasks of the Holy Spirit is that of a guide – a guide to lead us through life. In John 16:13 Jesus says: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”
A mature child of God
Paul says that as children of God we may be led by the Spirit of God. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). The Greek word used here for sons is huios, and implies maturity. To become a child of God, we must be born again of the Spirit of God (John 3). But once we are born again, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit daily, constantly to grow and mature.
Surrender to and depend on God
To experience His guidance, our complete surrender is necessary. Surrender also implies the ability to let go and put all things in God’s hands. In the expectation that He will then guide us further in every aspect of life. By walking in deep dependence on God, the Holy Spirit can show us the way and provide the solution for everything we present to Him.
Good works prepared beforehand
Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them.” Even before the foundation of the world, God prepared the good works that He wanted us to do as Christians. That is why we do not invent our good works ourselves, but we try to discover the good works that God has already prepared for us in order to get going with His work.
Ask God to guide you
That is why the guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential for every Christian. It is the Holy Spirit who first wants to reveal God’s plan for our life as a Christian and then leads us to do it. That is why it is so important that we consult with God in all sincerity before we carry out our own plans. Only by being guided by the Holy Spirit will we discover the plan that God has in store for us.