Earlier in the month of February, I wrote a blog post about choosing a word for the year. Another thing that some Christians do is to select a Bible verse for the upcoming year, as well. For the past two years, including

this year, I chose the same verse, Ephesians 2: 10. In the NKJV, it goes as follows:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

I also like this verse in the Passion Translation;

“We have become HIs poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny He has given for each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it.”

I like each version of this verse for different reasons. Both versions stress in the beginning that we have become God’s creation: workmanship or poetry. But they differ in the second half of the verse in how they describe what we are to do. The NKJV says that God created us for good works. And goes on to say, that He made preparations for those good works before our birth. Therefore our response to that becomes a question. How should we walk in them? It sounds like an easy walk, not a walk filled with striving. I imagine it as a walk which we take with Jesus as our guide, with Him saying to us turn here or go that way.

The Passion Translation goes a little more in-depth by referring to the good works which God planned for us to do as the destiny which He gave each of us. It also refers to the fact that we join Jesus in this work.

This makes me think of the scriptures in Matthew 11 28-30 in The Passion Translation:

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I am gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

Both passages in the Passion Translation refer to us being joined to Jesus. As we join ourselves to Him, our burden and our path are made light.

How do we join ourselves to Christ?  The key to this rests in our intimacy with Him How do we gain this intimacy? We gain it primarily through spending time with Him in the Word of God and through prayer. Here our spirits and souls can join Him as we seek Him. It says in Jeremiah that He will be found by those who seek Him with their whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). So we know that we can have His presence as we seek Him with our whole hearts. Then our journey and good works will be easy to do when we join ourselves to Him.

This verse stood out to me for the past few years, as it helps me to accomplish the things which Christ called me to do. The walk through life becomes easier when I join myself to Him. The verse also helps me to stay centered on Him as I go through my day-to-day life. 

Have you selected a verse for the year this year or in the past? Can you think of a verse for the year and how it helped you?