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You are a Masterpiece

July 06, 2016

By Cascade Christian

“I have been called to press on toward whom God has called me to become.”

Read it: Ephesians 2:10

Stronghold: Insignificance

Think on it:

In May, Eeyore, the gloomy donkey of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, celebrated his 145th birthday. He is one of the most loved characters in these stories, in spite of his “gloom and doom” outlook on life. He lives on the outside of Hundred Acre Wood, on the other side of the stream, in a place marked on the map as “Rather Boggy and Sad.” There have been articles, and even books, written about why this character is so loved, and why so many of us identify with him. One take is that Eeyore is a character in conflict. He craves love and attention, yet he lives in the belief that he is insignificant, not worthy of receiving love when it is offered to him. A good example of this is found in a scene in The House at Pooh Corner. Piglet, who loves Eeyore unconditionally, realizes he has never had a bunch of violets that someone has picked for him. With excitement he delivers a bunch to Eeyore, only to be shooed away with the comment, “Tomorrow,” says Eeyore, “or the next day.” It is this very conflict that helps many people to identify with him and gives him such human characteristics. The sympathy he generates in readers cannot be denied.

Do you identify with this conflict? We all have a desire to be loved and cherished, yet many times, when we are offered that unconditional love by our very Creator, we, like Eeyore, push away and go back to our “Rather Boggy and Sad” condition.

Ephesians 2:10 has some very important things to say to anyone struggling with this idea of insignificance – that they are not worth anything; that they are not loveable; that their life has no valuable purpose. Let’s explore what it has to say.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

One way to look at verses is to look closely at each phrase and understand the significance of each part of the verse. “For we are God’s workmanship…” The word “workman” means, “that which is made, a work, a work of art.” It comes from the same root word for “poem” – a “piece of literary workmanship.” Eventually, it came to refer to an author’s “magnum opus,” or his greatest literary achievement – his “masterpiece.” So, what is this part of the verse saying? It is saying we are God’s masterpieces. Second Corinthians 3:2-3 says that we are God’s letters of love to a world that is lost and hopeless. No artist wants to put his masterpiece in a closet – he desires to showcase it to the world. That is what God wants to do with us – His workmanship.

The next word in the verse is “created.” The definition is to form or shape; to make something out of nothing. Second Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that once we accept Christ into our lives, we become a new creation. The old, the dead, is gone – and is replaced by the new, the living. The “created” phrase continues with “in Christ Jesus.” We are reminded by this part of the verse that we are a masterpiece – created by the Master Himself. No one else can make something out of nothing – can take the dead and bring it to life – can take the ugly and make it beautiful. John 14:6 clearly tells us that He is the only One.

“…to do good works…” Looking at the definition of these words – good – that which excels; is useful; of a good nature; and works – employment; that with which one is occupied – we see that the writer of this verse is saying that, as this masterpiece, our actions should be positive. Our good works should be a contrast to the way we once were before we became that new creation. Our walk should stand out in this dark world. If we are truly connected to the Master, the actions that naturally flow from us should reflect that connection. If our actions are not reflective of that connection, maybe we need to strengthen that connection.

“…which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The King James Version states this part of the verse, especially the last part, “which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Walking gives us a visual of moving forward; regulating one’s life; making full use of opportunities. It suggests a once-and-for-all decision to walk in good works. It doesn’t mean that you walk with God for a year and then walk for yourself for five years. It refers to living in a fixed way that is committed to how God intends for His people to live. What is exciting to me in this phrase is the first part, “which God prepared in advance.” This reminds us that we have been chosen by God – our life has been ordered by God – our path is laid out by God (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 16:9). God has it all figured out. He spent time thinking about us, His masterpieces, how we would look, how we would think, where we would fit in. He designed a place just for us. How can we feel insignificant knowing that the Creator of the universe put that much time and effort into us?

This week, think of yourself as that famous painting that others come from miles around to view. Think of yourself as that masterfully written poem that brings tears of joy to those that read its words. Your life and your works are a display of the Creator. Find the path that God has laid out for you and “walk” in it for His glory – to point others to the Creator. Legitimate faith will always show itself in good works. If those good works are missing, so is the legitimate faith (James 1:16-25).

Pray about it:

Father, Creator, thank you for creating me. For knowing me and forming me before the worlds were made. I want my faith to be evidenced by the works of my life. I want others to see you when they look at me. Help me to follow the path you have laid out for me. I want to faithfully follow your plan. Amen.

Act on it:

Spend time this week going through all the verses throughout this devotional. Meditate on what they have to say, and then on what they have to say to you. Begin to see yourself as God sees you. Ask yourself if you need to examine the works being produced by your life and rethink where your faith is connected. Spend time this week evaluating exactly where you are in this journey.

Sometimes we have a hard time looking at others as God’s workmanship. Other people are just as precious to God as you are. If you are struggling with relationships with someone right now, take steps to fix that brokenness. Satan wants nothing more than for us to mock others and to not acknowledge God’s wonderful workmanship in someone else’s life.

Parenting Tips:

Begin to work with your child about their self-image. The world will tell them it is about looks, fame, money, position, etc. Help them begin to see that God is the one who designs the masterpieces, and that what is reflected to others needs to be reflective of God.

Help your child to see that others are creations of God. Help them to not “judge” others by the world’s standards, but that their works will show the world what is in their heart. Help them to understand that they are not responsible for how others are, but rather, how they are.