MASTERPIECE

Day 18 – Who He Says I Am Series

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (NLT)

– Ephesians 2:10

In Christ – 

YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Star Wars is one of my favorite movies and one of the reasons my husband and I got together. That’s a story for another time, but needless to say, our family is huge into Star Wars. Once in a store we were looking at Star Wars merch and there were two great shirts next to one another. The first shirt was funny. It had 9 different Storm Troopers on it in a grid-like pattern each with a different emotion labeled below each picture (ie happy, sad, surprised, etc…). Now if you are familiar with Star Wars, this is certainly comical because every Storm Trooper wears the same uniform helmet and looks exactly identical no matter if they are happy, sad, or mad.  And even saying the words “happy Storm Trooper” together is an oxymoron. Each Storm Trooper is stoic and robotic. This is the comedy genius of the shirt.  The shirt next to it however, was less comical but more profound to me in that moment of seeing it next to the Storm Trooper shirt. The next shirt featured all the Star Wars greats: Yoda, Luke, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewy each holding a lightsaber united together in one common goal – to defeat the dark side.  Looking at these 2 shirts, something amazing was revealed to me.  The world, society, systems, and sometimes even the church, tries to turn us all into the same – Storm Troopers in uniform – marching to orders, not getting out of line. But in the second shirt – each individual was unique and celebrated for their uniqueness, each bringing with them different personalities and different stories. Each of their backgrounds and their uniqueness are what made them so powerful.  God has gifted you with your own uniqueness. You were perfectly crafted and created in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). You are the only you there is and the only you there ever will be. Don’t let anyone or any organization take away from who you were created to be.

God planned long ago, before you were even born, good things for you to do. He created you as His masterpiece to do them. Only you can’t do them in your own strength and ability. In Christ you became a new creation- this is the completion of His masterpiece of you. Now the Holy Spirit lives out those good works that He prepared in advance through you.

You were created to be a unique, beautiful, you-shaped expression of Jesus in this world. The good works will automatically happen through you because now Christ lives in you as you rest with your eyes fixed on Him.

MASTERPIECE- is your Identity.

Daily Reminder

You don’t have to work to be a Masterpiece, you already are a Masterpiece because Christ gave you a new identity. His identity. This is who you are because of who He is, not who you have to try to become.

– Religion tells us what to do to become, which equals self reliance – the focus is on self.

– The truth of the Gospel tells us who we are because of who Jesus is and what He did – the focus is on Jesus.

Good News  – Our Father in heaven is pleased with you because of what Jesus did – it all hinges on Him not us.

We are in union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). When our Daddy in heaven looks at you, He sees Jesus, and He is nothing but pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

Rest in Him today.

Father God,

You are Elohim, the Creator. Thank you for creating me and not just for creating me but seeing me as a masterpiece – a work of art – that you have declared as unique and beautiful. Artwork is beautiful because of the Artist. To understand my worth is to glorify You. Thank You Jesus!