Understanding That I’m God’s Masterpiece

In review of Ephesians 2:10 it says, “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Bottom Line:

God made us and has given us a new life through Christ. He did this so that we can do the things he created us to do.

What this means to me:

God has made me who I am and has given me a new live when I accepted Christ in my life. He can now use me to do the good things which he has already planned in advance for me to do. The reason I have value is because of what God says about me, not because of what others say.

Our culture refers often to self-esteem and how many lack it. Those in this category may not feel good about themselves. Attempts are made to combat this by trying pump themselves up by the kind of clothes they wear, the kind of car they drive, and the things they say. They’re always trying to pump themselves up to make them feel better about themselves because they really don’t accept themselves. What I’m learning is that this is actually rebellion against God.

If God wanted us to be somebody else, we wouldn't exist. The good news is that He does want me! He made me to be me. So, real self-esteem can be built from three facts:

First, God created me.

Second, Jesus died for me.

Lastly, God’s Spirit lives in me.

Today’s verse reminds me that, “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). The New Testament was written originally in Greek and the Greek word for “masterpiece” is “poema.” It’s the word we get “poem” from. God says, “You’re my poem. You’re my masterpiece. I don’t want you copying somebody else.” Thus He has put gifts in me: heart, abilities, personality, and experiences, and He wants me to use them. I have worth because of what God says about me and has done.

I’m not just wanted; I’m needed! The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

I’m needed in my church, my community and in this world. If I wasn't needed, God would not have made me. He didn't create me to just sit and soak and sour, rather He brought me here to make a contribution through and with my life. And likewise everybody around me is needed as well.

There are no little people in the family of God. Every part is necessary. As an example of the importance of little things, the most important light in my house is not the big light we use in the dining room. Rather, it’s the little night light that keeps me from stumbling down the stairs in the dark.

Likewise, every role is important. I’m important and I have value because God said so and because he paid such a large ransom for my life when he sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me.

Today I’ll consider what role I’m planning in my church, community and the world.  My wife and I are about to make a change to where we live and where I work.  I need to make sure that I can plug in quickly to serve and continue making a difference. Until then, I need to participate and help out as much as I can in order to make a difference.

Additional Steps to Use In Defeating the Giants

In review of 1 Samuel 17:45-46 it says, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty …. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands …. And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”

Bottom Line:
David tells the Philistines, you may come against me with weapons, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and then the whole world will know God.

What this means to me:
I may have those who oppose me come against me with all kinds of weapons, but I can hold onto God’s protection. Then when their plans are thwarted, they will come to know the true God.

Today I will continue to look at ways to defeat the giants that keep me from being the person God wants me to be. For this, I can continue to look at the example of David and what he did to defeat the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt in his life.

The first is to remember how God has helped me in the past. David says in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (NLT) When I remember the ways that God has helped me in the past, it gives me confidence for the future.

Next use the tools that God has given me now. David used the tools that God provided that utilized his strengths: “Then Saul gave David his own armor …. ‘I can’t go in these,’ he protested to Saul. ‘I’m not used to them.’ So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag” (1 Samuel 17:38-40a). Don’t wait for something I don’t have, such as money, education, or connections. Use the tools God has already given me to face my giants with confidence.

Then ignore the dream busters by encouraging myself in the Lord. Later in life, when others were speaking against him, David had to encourage himself in the Lord: “David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6 TLB). When I can encourage myself in the Lord, it’s not just a positive mental attitude. There is a bedrock of trust in God’s grace, provision, security, and power I can count on.

Lastly, expect God to help me for his glory. David stormed the battlefield, shouting, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty …. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands …. And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 NIV).

Rick Warren had mentioned making this same decision when he was younger. He says, “On the mountains of Northern California one night, I got down on my knees and said, ‘God, I’m not the smartest guy, the best educated, or the most talented. But I’m going to trust you. And I will do anything, anytime, anywhere in faith, even when it doesn't make sense to me.’ And what an adventure my life has been!” Rick speaks to crowds every week that are five times bigger than the town He grew up in. He’s was a country boy with a slingshot.

The good news is that God will use me if  I will trust in and expect to be used by him. This will happen not because of who I am, but rather for his glory.

In summary, David learned to trust God. God will do what He promises to do. He will help me do what He has asked me to do as well. I can always look back to how God has helped me in the past, to use what he has already given me, to encourage myself in Him and expect God to use me to show his glory.

Learning to Deal with The Giants That Oppose My Dreams

In review of 1 Samuel 17:47 it says, “Everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

Bottom Line:

Everyone assembled here will soon know that the Lord rescues his people and does not depend on weapons to fulfill his plans. The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

What this means to me:

I am to remember that God will rescue me. He does not need any weapons in which to do this. The battle will be belong to him and he will provide the victory I need.

In the story of David in 1 Samuel, he actually had to fight four other giants before he got to Goliath. They weren't physical giants, but they were giants in his mind.

In my life, I’m far more likely to face those other giants than I am to face a Goliath. However these giants can but be just as big and intimidating and can keep me from becoming who God wants me to be and fulfilling the dream that God puts in my heart.

The first giant is delay. No dream is fulfilled instantly. God gives me the dream on one day, but he doesn't fulfill it the next day. It may be years before I see the fulfillment of this dream. There will always be a waiting period. In David’s case, his father held him back from the dream. After Samuel anointed David as king, Jesse told David to get back to tending the sheep! When God’s plan contradicts somebody else’s plan, there’s going to be a delay, and others may very well try to hold me back. But I know God is faithful, and he will complete his work in me in his time.

The second giant is discouragement. Goliath created a climate of fear in Israel, and everybody was convinced they were going to lose the battle. Who am I listening to who says it can’t be done? Is there someone or something putting down my dreams, leading me to believe it will never happen? Maybe I would just need a fresh voice, a kid from the village with fresh eyes who says, “This guy’s nothing. We can take him down.”

The third giant is disapproval. In David’s case, his own brother questioned his motives and disapproved of him going after Goliath. When God gives me a dream that other people are afraid of and I go for it anyway, I will be misjudged, maligned, and misunderstood. I will need to decide what matters more, the approval of other people or the approval of God.

The fourth giant is doubt. There was nobody who was a greater expert on war than King Saul, and he told David he was crazy for thinking a boy could fight a warrior like Goliath. Maybe the expert is saying I can’t do it, either, making me doubt myself.

Of the four giants, Delay, discouragement, disapproval and doubt, I believe I impacted most by delay and doubt. Delay often makes me think, it was probably not the right goal. Doubt will then crop in. What I need to realize is that delay is part of God’s training plan. They are likely things I need to learn or experience that will add value and aid in what I’m about to accomplish. Also, I’m my worst critic. I’ll often cast my own discouragement, especially when things are not going well. Ultimately, I must remember that if God gives me the dream, he will help me accomplish it. The battles I face are not mine alone to face. God will take on the battle and provide the victory. He will take out some of the hurdles that seem insurmountable.

Wise Investments For Money

In review of Luke 16:9 it says, “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”

Bottom Line:

Jesus tells them to use worldly wealth to make friends, so that when their worldly wealth gives out, they will be welcomed into an eternal home.

What this means to me:

I am to use my worldly wealth to benefit others and make friends. Then once these earthly things are gone, I can be welcomed into an eternal home filled with friends.

In summary, the best use of my money will be for things that get people into Heaven.  In Luke 16:9 Jesus says to, “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home” (NLT).

Jesus is saying that, just like the shrewd manager who made friends he could count on later, I need to use some of my money to make eternal friends that I will have forever in Heaven and who will welcome me when I get there.

So Jesus is not saying that I can purchase my salvation or buy my way into Heaven. This is impossible, because Jesus has already paid that price on the cross. Salvation is a free gift by grace.

Rather, Jesus is telling me to use your money here on earth to build friendships, ones that will go on and on for eternity. When I use my money to help other people meet Jesus, I will make friends for eternity and thus will gain benefits from it.

Ultimately, one day I’m going to die. It would be great to have a hundred people standing at the entrance, clapping and cheering and saying that, “They've been waiting for me! They are here because I spent some money to tell them the Good News. They are my friends for eternity, grateful for my investment. If it hadn't been for the way I used my money, they wouldn't have heard how to get to Heaven.”

So, I need to evaluate how I’m using my money and making sure that I’m using it for that kind of thing.  I should ask myself, will there be anyone in Heaven because of my investment and because of the way I used my money?

In the end, I won’t be able take it with me, however I can send some of it ahead by investing in people who would be going to Heaven.

As I get ready for a change in where I live and establish an updated spending plan, it will be important for me to prioritize some of that spending so that I can have an eternal impact of this nature. Also, I should continue doing what I can to meet with others regardless of where I’m at so that I can invest in eternal friendships.

A Wise Manager Will Look Ahead

In review of Proverbs 14:8 it says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.”

Bottom Line:

When it comes to money, a wise man will understand where they are going. A foolish person will think they know best and won’t face the facts.

What this means to me:

I would be wise to look and plan ahead getting counsel when needed, so that I can understand where I’m going. It would be foolish for me to ignore the facts or think that I know best, because I’d only be deceiving myself.

What I’m learning is that money is a tool to be used for God’s purposes. I am not to hoard it or stockpile it. I’m certainly not to worship it or rely on it. I’m to use it! I’m to use the temporary resources of what God has put in my hands, for permanent good.

The story of the dishonest but shrewd manager is told in Luke 16:1-13. Interestingly enough, in this story Jesus made this shrewd manager the hero of the story. This manager knew he was going to be fired, so he decided to make some friends by lowering the debts owed to his master.

While he was dishonest, he did three things that are worth adopting. They are lessons I can learn and apply to my own finances.

First, the manager looked ahead. Like most people I may not always look ahead when it comes to finances. This is especially true when things are going well. Here’s an interesting statistic: The average savings in Europe is about 12 percent of income, and in Japan it’s about 25 percent. The average savings Americans had last year was minus one percent. American’s spent one percent more than they made! That kind of math does not add up correctly. They are not saving anything, and that’s not really smart. Proverbs 14:8 reminds me, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (TLB).

Secondly, the manager made a plan. A plan or a budget, is simply planned spending. It’s a plan telling my money where I want it to go rather than wondering where it went. This verse reminds me that a wise person will have a plan. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:9, “We should make plans — counting on God to direct us.”

Lastly, the manager acted quickly. Luke 16:4 explains the managers action, “I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired” (NLT). The manager didn't procrastinate; he didn't delay. He set his plan in motion. He didn't say, “Someday I’m going to get my finances in order” or “Someday I’m going to start saving for retirement.”

In this passage, Jesus was not commending the manager’s dishonesty but rather his attitude, which says, “I’m going to think ahead. I’m going to make a plan. And I’m going to invest in relationships that will benefit others and me in the future.”

That’s an example of being smart! Jesus wants me to do the same when it comes to my finances. So today I need to consider; am I spending my treasure here on Earth or looking ahead and storing it up in Heaven?

This passage also reminds me that I only loosely have a plan for spending. I really need to do a better job of planning the spending and accounting for it. It should reflect the right priorities; investing in the future in Heaven. One worthy goal would be to become debt free. This would be including owning and not mortgaging my next home for a long period of time, and paying off my newly acquired student debt quickly.

Unfortunately, I’m the king of procrastination. It’s what comes naturally to me if I don’t purposefully plan. When things are going well, I procrastinate even more regarding finances. I need to be a better steward of the resources God has granted me.

In today’s study, I realized that I have been focusing on planning and finances; however these same three principles are applicable for anything that I manage.  To manage anything effectively, I need to look ahead, create a plan and then act quickly to put it into place.

Godly Goal Setting Starts with God’s Promises

In review of Genesis 24:7a it says, “The LORD, the God of heaven, brought me from the home of my father and the land of my relatives. And he promised me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’”

Bottom Line:

If God promises you something, he will provide it.

What this means to me:

When God promises me something, he’ll provide it so it’s important for me not to deviate from it.

The Bible is filled with promises from God. There are promises of success, confidence, health, prosperity, strength, wisdom, and more. So why would God make these promises?  What I’m learning is that he has made them because he wants me to learn to trust in him.

So as I set a goal, I should not focus on the problem, rather I should focus on the promise he has given. I should find a promise in God’s Word that will take me to my goal and hold on to it.

This is essentially what Abraham did when Eliezer, his servant, started to worry about accomplishing the goal he was given. In today’s verse, Abraham tells Eliezer about the promise he received from God: “The LORD, the God of heaven, brought me from the home of my father and the land of my relatives. And he promised me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ The LORD will send his angel before you to help you get a wife for my son there” (Genesis 24:7 NCV).

Today, I won’t need an angel, because dozens of time in Scripture God has said that, “He will be with me no matter where I go.” God is always there, whether I feel it or not. I just need to learn how to plug into that power.

Interestingly enough, the size of my God is based on my trust in Him. This will determine the size of my goal. And, godly goal setting should always starts with a promise of God. Given this, I should not look at my limitations; rather I should look at the promises of God and adopt them for my goals.

Today, I can be assured that when God promises me something, he’ll provide it. If he provides all he promises, it’s important for me not to deviate from it, otherwise I’ll miss it.

Today, I should consider some of my goals and look for passages in his Word where he provides promises. It will be important for me to set goals that are not selfish but are ones that would be pleasing to him.  God will provide what I need to accomplish what’s truly on his heart.

Learning to Love Others the Way God Loves Me

In review of 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says, “Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.”

Bottom Line:

Love patiently endures, does not lose faith, is always hopeful and never gives up.

What this means to me:

Love God’s way, is the key to how I am to respond to others. It must be a love that would patiently endure, would never give up, and it would always hope for the best in others.

The same love that God gives to me, is what I am to offer to everyone else that I come in contact with. It’s not an option or a suggestion. It’s a command: John 13:34 says, “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (NLT).

God’s Word tells me that I must love everybody; whether I like them or not, in the same manner that Christ loves me. This means I am to accept them completely, love them unconditionally, forgive them totally, and consider them extremely valuable. Love executed under these guidelines will ultimately transform my relationships.

Today’s verse reminds me that, “Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up” (1 Corinthians 13:7 GW).

This is a statement of how God loves and treats me. God never stops being patient with me, and never stops believing in me. In addition, God never stops hoping for the best for me and my life. More importantly, He will never gives up on me. This is what God expects me to do with everybody else I encounter.

So, when it says, “Love never stops being patient.” This means a love that extends grace. I need to offer grace to others, regardless.

“Love never stops believing.” This means it expresses faith. I communicate to others that, “Even though we’re having a tough time, I will never stop believing in you.”

“Love never stops hoping.” This means love expects the best. Am I expecting the best in my relationships, or have I settled for less than the best?

“Love never gives up.” This means love endures the worst. It means I can look at the other person and say, “You can throw everything at me, but I’m going to keep loving you, no matter what.”

Wow, given my natural inclination this will require some conscious effort and prayer.  Given that, today I start by praying, “God, I admit that I have not given as much priority in relationships that I should. They are at times complicated and broken, and I’ve often settled for less than the best. They need a transformation! I’d like you to begin by changing me. Deliver me from my fears, because I can see how they make me distant and defensive and even demanding. Today and every day from now on, I want to surrender my heart to you. I want to learn to live my life in your love and be filled with your love.”

Furthermore, I ask you God to “help me to accept others, just as you've accepted me. Help me to love others unconditionally, just as you have loved me. Help me to forgive others totally, just as you've forgiven me. And help me to value others as much as you value me. Help me to extend grace to and express faith in the people around me. Help me to expect the best in others, and help me to endure the worst when it happens. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”