You Are His Workmanship

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”

Workmanship, craftsmanship, designer made, bespoke, hand built, are all words that convey the idea of uniqueness, rarity, exclusiveness. Beleek China, Wedgewood Pottery, Waterford Crystal, Gucci Leather, Rolex, Armani, Chanel etc. are all makers of fine, exclusive, designer, hand crafted workmanship.  Paul in Ephesians 2:10 declares that “WE are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.”  Psalm 139:14 “I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are Your works.” Psalm 8:5 “…We are made just a little lower than the angels…”

We have rationale and intelligence beyond any creature. Initiative far above any animal. Birds can fly, but they can’t build spaceships and go to the moon. Rabbits, moles and badgers can dig and burrow, but they can’t mine for gold. An ape may be smart, but it’ll never be a brain surgeon. You are unique, rare. How rare? You are one in seven billion.  Not one in the other 6 million nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine people have got you fingerprints, eye retina patterns, or even your laugh or your exact temperament or personality.  You didn’t come from an ape. You’re not a monkey’s uncle. You didn’t come from some inter-galactic stellar explosion, or the scales of some pre-historic reptilian mammal.  NO, you are His workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus. Made in the very image of God Himself. Made exclusively by God, made exclusively for God.

No wonder Paul said in Acts 17:25 “In Him we live and move and have our being.”  Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship…  The word, ‘workmanship’ here is POIMEA, from which we get poem.  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3“You are epistles of Christ. Written not with ink but with the Spirit of God. Not in tablets of stone but in the tablets of the heart, known and read of all men.” God has made our lives to be a living poem, a living letter to this world.  Our lives are constantly saying something about God to this world.  Question: What are we saying? What do they read when our book is open? …created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”

My wife likes nice things. Over the years she has collected a few of them. Royal Doulton figurines used to be a favourite, but they are out of fashion now. Yet one can appreciate the craftsmanship, and quality of these exquisite figurine ladies, and the beautiful design, colour and texture, of the fine bone china. However, notwithstanding the workmanship and creativity of these beautiful pieces, they have no practical or functional purpose. They are for display only. They are simply to be looked at, admired and enjoyed for their beauty. But God’s creation, His new creation, His workmanship (you and I) are to be functional, practical, as well as beautiful and pleasing.  2 Corinthians 9:8 We are to abound to every good work. Colossians 1:10 We are to be fruitful in every good work. 2 Timothy 3:7 We are to be thoroughly equipped (furnished) unto every good work.

You Are His Workmanship. 

- Pastor David Goudy