40 14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples
2:9. The residents of Ephesus were known for their boasting, especially as
caretakers of the temple of Diana and the three temples built to encour-
age the worship of Roman emperors. Because salvation is a gift and not
earned, no believer should boast, except in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:30,
12:9). God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), not we for him.
2:10. “Workmanship” means that believers are a product of God’s cre-
ative activity. Just as God created the universe through Christ (Hebrews
1:2), he created (“produced”) believers through Christ. We are given
faith and grace to “produce” (the root word of “workmanship”) good
things in the kingdom of God. God creates people, by grace through
faith, who are alive and purposeful in his kingdom.
Focusing on the Meaning
Faith can be defined as a belief that leads to complete trust. For
Christians, the object of our faith is God as he is revealed in Jesus Christ,
his Son.
Highly effective disciples learn to use their faith in at least three ways.
First, we trust (have faith) in God’s wisdom and direction. Proverbs
3:5–6 is a practical and poetic expression of our faith as we learn to
trust God for the provisions and blessings of life. Jesus also taught his
disciples to have this sort of faith (Matthew 6:25–34).
Second, effective disciples have faith in Christ alone for salvation,
and we are completely secure in this trust in Christ. Followers of Christ
recognize his uniqueness and lordship (Colossians 1:15–23) and gladly
put their whole faith in him, alone (John 6:67–69). Along with the
Apostle Paul all believers can say, “I live by faith in the Son of God who
loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20b).
Third, effective disciples celebrate God’s gifts of grace and faith.
“Grace” is God’s extraordinary favor to humankind, a merciful love we
cannot fully understand. God’s gift of grace makes faith in him possible
for fallen, sinful humanity. God seeks us. We do not seek him, except as
he allows by grace, through faith. Effective disciples celebrate God’s gifts
of grace and faith, for without them no one could be saved (Ephesians
2:18).