Observing God’s Masterpiece.

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“You’re such a millennial!” Those are the words I use to tease my daughter whenever I catch her taking a selfie with her phone. This summer when we visited the Grand Canyon I caught her several times posing for herself with all that beauty in the background. She’s grown up with a generation of people who now have more pictures of themselves in their home than pictures of any other thing. Wherever we traveled selfie sticks were available in every gift shop, a new phenomenon has become a part of everyday life.

Is there anything wrong with taking a selfie? Not at all. We are a part of God’s creation and it is right to include ourselves in the pictures of beauty all around us.

“For 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.  New Living Translation

Often we forget that we too were created to glorify God. To be His masterpiece means He carefully constructed us from the beginning and continues to work on us, perfecting us. He does this both for His pleasure and to express Himself through us.  When I observe a work of art I do not simply look at the whole picture and walk away. I observe the individual brushstrokes and the story it tells.  I consider the artist and wonder what they were trying to convey.

What does observing who you are and how you fit into this world tell you about God? You are a reflection of His glory, but how? When you encounter others, how does it direct them to your master artist? Do you know what the good things He planned for you to do are? How does your story tell the story of Christ and His redemption?

It is possible to look too long at ourselves and begin worshipping the wrong thing. However, that does not mean we should never look at all. Take the opportunity to observe yourself and glorify God for all He has done. Then look at the other works of art around you and discover how each masterpiece expresses the Master Artist.

Text and Picture Copyright Richelle Hecker