“A BEAUTIFUL WORK IN THE MAKING”

“A BEAUTIFUL WORK IN THE MAKING”

Monday, June 27th, 2022

SCRIPTURE

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

See also Isaiah 45:9-12

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Last week my family and I were camping along a creek at the edge of the Great Smokey Mountains here in North Carolina. Unplugging from technology was a much needed and welcomed invitation to tune into the voice of God and the beauty of God’s creation as the birds chirped, the creek trickled, and the leaves on the trees above blew in the wind… That is until…. a loud chainsaw cranked up across the creek opposite from where we were staying. That particular morning, the quiet sounds of nature were interrupted by two men with a couple of chainsaws and scaffolding, sawing away at a 15-foot tree stump at a cabin only yards away from us. I sat in bewilderment and frustration at the interruption.

After a few hours of coping with this annoyance, I noticed that the guy operating the chainsaw was a wood worker, a wood carver, a craftsman. He was actually carving ‘something’ out of that huge tree stump.

What began as an interruption turned into a great sense of curiosity, not only for me, but for my wife and daughter, and a number of other campers along the creekside. This man, interestingly enough, was also dressed in a zip up, one-piece outfit, and was working in his bare feet. It was as though he was standing on holy ground. I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it before in my life.

Over the course of the next two and a half days, something spectacular was being revealed from within that towering stump. We kept asking ourselves, “Can You Tell What It Is?” From the viewpoint in which we were positioned, we couldn’t really tell. It appeared as though what we were looking at was supposed to be viewed from the other side. We were looking at it from the backside.

So, in an effort to see more clearly what he was making, it required of me moving. I literally had to get up and move from where I was to where I needed to be in order to see more fully what was being created. I either had to cross the swift moving creek or I had get in my car and drive around to a back road to see its full view.

As our family and the rest of the campers along the creekside patiently waited for days to see what was being created, what was eventually revealed was spectacular!!! We all stood in awe of this man’s incredible masterpiece and could only imagine how much it cost create. This master woodcarver had carved a family of black bears out of this massive tree stump, had prepped it, and then painted it for all to cherish and see. It was priceless, a masterpiece, a true work of art.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

As we sat by the creekside the remainder of the week, I couldn’t help but to ponder and reflect further on what we saw unfold. Each of us are a priceless masterpiece in the making, created in Christ for His glory. For each of us, the Lord must chip away everything that is not of Him. From our head to our toes and everything in between, whatever is not of the Lord, is carefully and precisely removed. The Lord chips away at every area of our life that doesn’t glorify Him, whereas over time, the image of God is revealed deep within us. As the Holy Spirit does its work in us, we no longer live, but Christ lives within us.

Not only are we made in God’s image, but we are uniquely and wonderfully made as an individual work of art. Now sure, we may preach and share this great news with the members of our congregations, but when was the last time YOU paused and were still long enough to cherish such truth.

You my friend, are God’s masterpiece, special, and beloved by God and designed for a unique purpose. Now sure, we may want to be more like Billy Graham or St. Francis or Mother Teresa (or some great priest, pastor, or Christ-follower you admire). But the Lord may likely respond saying, I already have a Billy Graham and a Mother Teresa. What I really need and what I have created is YOU my beloved child.

And so, the Lord must chip away everything that is not uniquely you. The Lord has made us and has called us to reflect the love of Christ in our life in such a way that is uniquely each of us as individuals. As pastors, we are called to invite our congregations to discover their true God-given identity and to live into that more fully. However, we may fail to embrace this practice ourselves.

Be encouraged to pause this week and reflect upon YOUR OWN unique God-given identity. Invite the Lord to continue to chip away everything in YOUR life that doesn’t bring Him glory, and that is not uniquely and wonderfully YOU. The Lord has created and made YOU for a special purpose. You and I don’t fill anyone else’s shoes but our own. Let me repeat that. You and I don’t fill anyone else’s shoes but our own. We don’t fill the shoes of our predecessor, or anyone else for that matter. God had created and is continuing to create a masterpiece in YOU.

You’re also not simply a work of art abstractly created to be adored by others, as I’m sure you know. But as the Lord fine tunes His work in you, shaping you, molding you, carving you, perfecting you, God is working in the context of His revealed truths found in His Word. Part of our sanctification is to discover our true self as God has uniquely created us to be. We must invite the Holy Spirit to chip away everything in our lives that is not of Christ AND that is not our true selves as the Lord has created and made each of us to be.

The artist takes tremendous care and thoughtfulness in His creation. So it is with each of us as the Lord does His work in us. It’s a challenge though. We must learn patience and submission to the Creator’s work in us. We are often impatient with what might seem like an irritating transformation in progress.

The chipping away process can be tough and often times be painful though. In the midst of the process, we may not really appreciate the good work God is doing in us as we are a “work in progress”. We often stress about what may be ultimately revealed. It may require some changes in our lives to more fully live into our greatest potential. No more than the tree can claim greater wisdom than the tree carver and creator, should we claim a greater wisdom than God who creates and shapes us day after day after day.

The artist has a grand vision and design in mind, as the Lord does as He continues to shape and transform your life. The artist takes time and precision, stepping back to look at His creation, working more and more, reflecting, creating, and so on. Trust in the Lord’s timing and submit to the Lord’s good work in you. It IS and WILL BE glorious!

By the power of the Holy Spirit living within you, submit to the Lord’s work in YOUR OWN life. Again, everything that is not of Jesus must be chipped away. And everything that is not uniquely identifiable as your true self which God has made, must also be chipped away. And over time, when you look back from a new vantage point, from a renewed sense of perspective, there’s no telling what glorious masterpiece you will discover.

As you invite the Holy Spirit to work in your congregations, invite that same Holy Spirit to do a transformative work in YOU as well. May God be glorified as He continues to do a mighty work in each of our lives today and in the days ahead.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, forgive me for being irritated, worried, anxious, and even impatient about the transforming work You are doing in my life. Grant me eyes to see from a clearer perspective and the patience to trust in Your timing in the work You are doing in my life. As I lead my congregation, grant me grace and perseverance to practice what I preach and to more fully live into who you have called me to be. Renew a sense of my own self worth, that I am indeed one of Your beloved children, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that You have prepared in advance for me to do. Be glorified in my life O Lord I pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. - AMEN

APPLICATION / RESOURCE

This week, consider whittling a small piece of wood with a pocketknife (if you’re careful), or pick up some modeling clay at the craft store. And as you begin creating reflect upon Ephesians 2:10.

If you have children, pick up a copy of the book “You Are Special” by Max Lucado and read it together. And if you don’t have children, pick up a copy and read it for yourself. And then consider giving it to a child at church, or a neighbor you know that has children. And remember, YOU are indeed special.