8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
How do you describe yourself? What nouns would you use to say “This is who I am”? Ephesians 2:10 helps us answer that question in a remarkable way. The first few words are, “For we are God’s handiwork” (NIV). Other translations say that we are God’s “accomplishment” (CEB), “workmanship” (ESV, KJV), or “masterpiece” (NLT). The Greek original uses the word poiema, which is related etymologically to our word “poem.” Poiema had a broad range of meaning in Greek, referring to many things made by a creative agent – usually a human being. Ephesians 2:10 is not claiming that our physical existence depends on God’s creative power, though this is ultimately true. Rather, this verse emphasizes our new identity in Christ. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 5:17 reveals, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we respond to God’s grace through faith, not only do we receive assurance of our future salvation, but also, we are remade by God’s creative power. We become new people, even though we continue to live in our old bodies. In this sense, we are God’s handiwork, accomplishment, workmanship, or masterpiece. “Masterpiece,” the word found in the New Living Translation, might exaggerate slightly the sense of the Greek original. But “masterpiece” rightly conveys something about the nature of our new creation in Christ. After all, God doesn’t make damaged goods or mediocre products. Whatever God makes could, in a real sense, be called a masterpiece. Perhaps, you might not feel like a masterpiece today. You may be feeling like something far less than this. Perhaps you had a hard time getting out of bed this morning, thinking about the work that you’d be doing today. Perhaps your body is aging and you’re struggling to do things you once did without a second thought. Or you may be sensing your moral and relational failures. Or, well, you name it. You wonder: How could I possibly be God’s masterpiece? The answer is that you are a masterpiece, not because of how healthy you are, how accomplished you are, or how moral you are. You are a masterpiece because of what God has done in your life by His grace. You have been newly and wonderfully created through Christ, so that you might live in relationship with God and for His glory. This is true no matter how you might be feeling today. In Christ, you are God’s masterpiece. As you go through your day, pause to re-member that you have indeed been created anew in Christ. Let this truth affect how you think, feel, and act. Gracious Father, thank You for I am Your handiwork, even Your masterpiece, not because of my effort, but because of Your grace. May I see myself in light of this truth. May I live each day embodying this truth. May I be Your masterpiece today, Lord, in all I do, think, say, and feel. For Your glory! Amen. Comments are closed.
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