Beautiful art

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them Ephesians 2:10
I have a painting hung above the fireplace in my basement. It depicts an old barn in a hay field, done in browns and beiges. To the discerning art critic, it probably wouldn’t merit a great deal of attention. Likely no one in sophisticated circles would long to own it.
But to me, it is priceless. I would never give it away or even sell it to the highest bidder. To me, it is beautiful and irreplaceably treasured.
Not because the scene is so beautiful nor because it is so rare.
But because of who painted it and gave it to me.
A friend who became so dear to me in college and then moved to the mission field tried her hand at painting before she left. She found she had a good bit of talent for it and she completed a few pieces, just for fun. One such piece is displayed in my home, a precious reminder of one I love so very much.
The painting is valuable because of who made it.
Regardless of what the art experts may think about my painting, I know beyond a shadow of doubt they may cast upon it that this painting is of inestimable value.
Girlfriends, it’s the same for you and me. We are His workmanship. The Master Designer has conceived and created us according to His flawless plan. We must not listen to the amateur art critics who try and speak into our lives, those who judge us according to temporal standards and find us lacking. Our design is not only intentional…it is also good. We are of infinite value because of Who made us. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.
Unlike my precious painting, however, the designs of the Master are not created to just hang around and get looked upon. We have been created with purpose. Purpose that is not incidental but rather priority – for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Let’s be about discovering what those are for each day.