Jul. 15, 2019

Ephesians 2:4-10 KJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

Nothing is as beautiful and valuable as something that is hand crafted, whether it is a piece of furniture, painting, wood work etc. Homes built with laborious detail are called "custom built" because of the painstaking hours of workmanship that makes the crown molding beautiful, the brilliance of the hardwood floors, the marble used in the kitchens and bathrooms.

Cars like Rolls Royce, Bentley and Lamborghini command astronomical sums of money because of the workmanship and time it takes to build just one. Like the custom homes on display in the gated community or the exotic cars, you don't see them everywhere but when you do see one, you immediately say "wow". They are rare and more valuable because there are not that many made.

The owners of these works of art naturally want them displayed in a way that enhances the product. You will only find them on display in exclusive areas where wealth is abundant.

In the world, it will take huge sums of money to buy something so special and rare as a custom built home, hand built car, flat screens that curve or whatever it is because of the workmanship and time that it took to make it.

On a smaller and far less expensive scale, you can find valuable works that have been hand crafted at community art fairs and local boutiques. They are beautiful pieces of workmanship that catch your eye like the expensive items only far more affordable. The owners of these pieces of work chose the community fair to display their work because they may not have the met the criteria for the expensive places or they want to appeal to a larger market that can't afford higher prices items.

These examples are impressive images of what man's ingenuity and workmanship can accomplish but they pale in comparison to what God's workmanship did for us.

We (men and women) were created in the image of God by God, formed from the dust of the ground, have His breath of life breathed into our nostrils and became living souls (Genesis 2:7). Then He gave us dominion over all of His creation that was already in place when Adam realized he was living. Then God displayed His finished product in a beautiful garded called Eden and had perfect fellowship with His Adam and Eve until sin entered His perfect garden.

The world builds things to be displayed in order to amass wealth but God has us on display long before the finished work in us is complete so those who are where we once were can see the change in our lives that God has wrought since He quickened us from our death to sin and now live in His glorious light since becoming His blood bought trophies.

The beginning of chapter 2 of Ephesians verses 1-3 proved in our old condition we were dead in trespasses and sin because God had no place in us. Satan had us thinking we were having the time of our lives in spite of the workmsanship God had so lovingly labored in us. We were having what we thought was fun, chasing after money, the fast life, night clubs with all the alcohol we could drink, weed we could smoke and cocaine we could snort.

Thank God verse 4 begins with "But God". I don't know about you but I was on a fast track to hell "BUT GOD" who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved me, saved me, cleaned me up, gave me a new walk, a new talk and filled me with His Precious Holy Spirit so I can witness to you and everyone who reads this how "AWESOME" My GOD is.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Verse 8). Grace, God's wonderful Grace is amazing because it reminds the believer they were saved in spite of what they did in their past. Not of works lest any man should boast (verse 9)...For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We, you and I because of God's Son Jesus Christ have God's Grace and a receipt marked paid in full for our salvation, Jesus paid a price we could never pay. We, have the opportunity to tell this dying world there is still time to get it right. Our lives should be on display as the handcrafted work art God always knew we would be, witnessing to everyone about the victory we have.

Victory over satan's hell because we are saved...Victory over the spirit of sickness because by the stripes on Jesus back we are healed...Victory of poverty because we are Rich and Not Poor...Victory over low self esteem because Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world...whatever you are fighting in your life...You are Hand Crafted By God To Have The Victory over it.

Thank You Lord For Your Word