Chiseled

Spiritual Essential: Purpose

Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

“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)

In the gym, every rep counts. The sweat, the strain, the discipline — it’s all working toward something. Over time, the body starts to change. Definition takes shape. Strength increases. But the process doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes intention. It takes vision. Coaches call it sculpting or chiseling — shaping the body into something with form, function, and purpose.

God works the same way with your soul.

Ephesians 2 reminds us that we’re not spiritual accidents or afterthoughts. We are God’s handiwork — not just created by Him, but created on purpose. From the beginning, God shaped your life with a calling in mind. That calling isn’t just about what you do — it’s about who you are in Christ. That’s how we define purpose: God’s calling for our lives — not just what we do, but who we are in Christ. It is knowing we were created in advance for good works that bring Him glory.

But just like physical training, the process takes time. It takes effort. And most importantly, it takes a willingness to let the Spirit do the shaping. God doesn’t chisel us with quick fixes or shortcuts. He uses discipline, truth, grace, and sometimes pressure — all to reveal who He created us to be. Your identity isn’t based on your performance. It’s based on the work of Christ. And that work is still ongoing.

So how does knowing God created us on purpose shape our identity? It anchors us. It tells us we don’t have to guess who we are or what we’re here for. We’ve been made with intention. You were designed to reflect His glory — to live in freedom, to love with courage, to serve with strength. That purpose gets clearer the more you walk with Him, the more you train your soul like you train your body.

Every spiritual discipline — prayer, Bible reading, worship, community — is like another rep. It chisels away the false identities we’ve picked up and reveals the true design God had in mind all along.

So keep training. Keep trusting. You are God’s handiwork, sculpted by grace, shaped by truth, and created on purpose. Your calling isn’t random — it’s chiseled.

Questions for Reflection:

How has God refined your purpose?

Where do you still feel your purpose is unclear?