June 22, 2002

Dear Friends,

Seeing as my first academic year of teaching is quickly drawing to a close, I have been thinking about “the perfect” topic for this month’s Web update. What about a “Can you believe this really happened to me?” or a “Look at all the great things that have resulted from my teaching” story? Better yet, how about a “What the media neglects to tell you” essay? No, no, a thousand times no. None of those topics would pass my personal approval board, a.k.a. my conscience.

This afternoon, however, while reading Ephesians 2:8-10 aloud, my answer came. In trying to memorize the verses, I read them over repeatedly. During each reading, I stressed different words, hoping to both put more of them to memory and also to gain new insight as to their application to my life. What I hope to share with you is not rocket science, however it is inspired from something far superior to rocket science, the Word of God. So let us first read
from Ephesians, and then read the lessons of which they have reminded me.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

In the first sentence, the following words and phrases stuck out to me: “grace,” “faith,” “not from yourselves,” “gift of God,” and “not by works.” They made me think of my role here in China. Yes, I am serving overseas, but my service is not saving me. I am no greater than the secretary, cashier, or investment bank executive that shares God’s love with his or her co-workers, nor am I less than the evangelist or pastor whose full-time occupation is devoted to the same task. My work here is not a guarantee of salvation. I can only trust and believe in the gift of God’s salvation that he graciously offers to me.

In the second sentence, I underlined virtually every phrase as being important. First of all, I am God’s workmanship. He made me, designing me to be a unique individual. I am not a lao wai (foreigner) like everyone on the streets here says to me, nor am I a rich American. I am not my own, but his.

God created me in Christ Jesus. Jesus did the dirty work long before I was even a thought. Through sacrificing Jesus’s life on the cross, God gives life; I only need to believe. This reminds me of my need for humility. Foreigners in China are often excessively praised for silly qualities like “wonderful English pronunciation,” “lively and interesting lessons,” and “great Chinese.” It is easy for one’s head to become inflated, leading to independence from Jesus.

God created me in Christ Jesus to do good works. Wait a minute. Did I not just read that I am not saved by what I do? Let me read that part again more carefully. Oh, God created me to do good works. My works cannot save me, but they are rather a part of God’s design for living out my faith. Furthermore, he is the one who has prepared everything in advance for me to do. He has
arranged for me to be in China for two years. He has sent me specifically to Yuncheng, bringing me into contact with many students, friends at church, and numerous store vendors. He even planned it so that I would make friends with the neighborhood children.

This passage from Ephesians has helped to remind me of how God is alive and active in my life, giving it both meaning and purpose. I rejoice in being able to end this semester knowing that I am a recipient of such amazing grace. Moreover, I hope that you will also be able to rejoice in the amazing grace given to you.

Yours,

Caroline Sunquist