Created Skillfully, Crafted Beautifully
On Day 17 of DWG, I am reminded that we are all works of art!
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:10 NASB
The Greek word for workmanship is poiēma. It means something created or made; the works of God the Creator. The only other place that this word is used in the Bible is in Romans 1:20 which says:
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."
Poiēma is the word used for "through what has been made". We are created skillfully and crafted beautifully by the Creator. We are a reflection of His invisible attributes, His eternal power and His divine nature. We are works of art!
But, we're not just a masterful painting that adorns a wall or a beautiful show rug that decorates the floor or a hand-crafted piece of jewelry that graces someone's neck.
We were created in Christ Jesus, not to look good, but to do good works. Works that He prepared for us since the beginning of time. His work, not ours (though His work is the true desire of our heart).
A workmanship is created to work. In Genesis 2:5, it says, "Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground."
God created Adam and put him in the garden to work it. God prepared the work in advance and chose Adam to do it. Adam was designed specifically for the work of taking care of and cultivating God's garden. In the same way, we were designed specifically for whatever work God created us to do. And we are equipped in Christ with everything we need to walk in it one step at a time. It's a journey.
Good works is everything that we do in our daily lives to the glory of God. It is also the calling that God places on our lives. In all that we do, big or small, we are to work at it as if working for God because it is Him we are serving.
Do you see yourself as His workmanship, created skillfully and crafted beautifully by the Creator? Do you know what makes you uniquely you? Do you believe that God has created you specifically for good works? What does God want you to take care of/cultivate (your calling)? Seek God for the answers to these questions!