I’ve often wondered where I would be financially, spiritually, or emotionally if I had allowed the Holy Spirit to direct me. If I had heeded what it says in Proverbs;
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
When I look back I realize that I was either rebelling against what my grandmother thought I should do (she wanted me to be a preacher), or trying to be like someone that I thought was successful. I also took up some of the not so good things that I saw my father do. Still today I see the success
of many of my high school and college classmates and wonder why I was not as successful.
After reading the chorus of a song called “I Can Just Be Me” written by
Laura Story, I realized that I had just preached a sermon “God’s Masterpiece”, that had a real message that I didn't see until I read those words.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
When I look back I realize that I was either rebelling against what my grandmother thought I should do (she wanted me to be a preacher), or trying to be like someone that I thought was successful. I also took up some of the not so good things that I saw my father do. Still today I see the success
of many of my high school and college classmates and wonder why I was not as successful.
After reading the chorus of a song called “I Can Just Be Me” written by
Laura Story, I realized that I had just preached a sermon “God’s Masterpiece”, that had a real message that I didn't see until I read those words.
In that sermon, although I never said that you shouldn't compare yourself with anybody else, it’s obvious to me today that was one of, if not the major point of that message.
Here is some of what I said in that sermon;
What would you say is the greatest of His masterpieces?
You could give many different answers to that question. Many would say that God’s greatest masterpiece is the sunset that paints the evening sky or the millions of stars that twinkle so beautifully each night. Others might point to the majestic mountain ranges or the mighty, rushing rivers. And some might say the flowers that bloom in the spring or the many amazing creatures that populate our planet. All of those masterpieces are impressive, but none of them are the greatest that God has created.
If you are a Christian you probably saw one of these works of art already today . . . that is, if you looked in a mirror. Yes, YOU are the greatest of God’s masterpieces.
Each one of us is completely unique – there will never be anyone just like you. God knows all of us personally with all our strengths and weaknesses.
David said in
Psalms 139:13-14 NASB For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
God has a plan for us, even before we are conceived
Jeremiah 1:5 NASB "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations"
According to Scripture, there is a unique and custom-designed plan that God has in store just for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.
A masterpiece, when talking about a poem or work of art indicates that it is perfect.When I look at my life, I guarantee you that I don’t see perfection. When we see ourselves, we tend to see our flaws. We see so many things that need to change.Yet God says, that you are His workmanship. “You are my work of art. You are my poem. You are my masterwork.”
Ephesians 2:10 ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God is not like a doting father who’s oblivious to his child’s faults. Rather, He is your all-knowing, yet all-powerful Father in heaven who can see what you will be when it is all said and done. God can look at you and can see what you will become before you have actually become it. We look at ourselves and say, “I don’t get it. This doesn’t look like a perfect person. This doesn’t look like a work of beauty.” , but God sees you through the lens of Jesus’ work on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NASB Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
That's how God sees you. He sees you as the righteousness of God through Christ.
You are a masterpiece that is a work in progress. It is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. It is going to take all of your life on Earth. It won’t be completely finished until you get to heaven.
Then you will see that you indeed are a perfect work of art — God’s masterpiece. God has created you to be a masterpiece so that He could show you off! He has a plan and purpose for you. He wants you to be that showpiece everyone talks about. The next time you look in the mirror say it out loud for your brain to capture. “I am God’s masterpiece!”
Lyrics to “I Can Just Be Me”
I've been doing all that I can
To hold it all together
Piece by piece.
I've been feeling like a failure,
Trying to be braver
Than I could ever be.
It's just not me.
So be my healer, be my comfort, be my peace.
Cause I can be broken, I can be needy,
Lord I need You now to be,
Be my God, so I can just be me.
I've been living like an orphan,
Trying to belong here,
But it's just not my home.
I've been holding on so tightly,
To all the things that I think
Could satisfy my soul.
But I'm letting go
So be my father, my mighty warrior, be my king.
Cause I can be scattered, frail and shattered,
Lord I need You now to be,
Be my God, so I can just be me.
Cause I was lost in this dark world
Until I was finally found in You
So now I'm needing, desperately pleading
Oh Lord, be all to me
And be my savior, be my lifeline, won't You be my everything.
Cause I'm so tired of trying to be someone
I was never meant to be
Be my God
Please be my God
Be my God
So I can just be me
So I can just be me
I can just be me.
Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Laura Story
Here is some of what I said in that sermon;
What would you say is the greatest of His masterpieces?
You could give many different answers to that question. Many would say that God’s greatest masterpiece is the sunset that paints the evening sky or the millions of stars that twinkle so beautifully each night. Others might point to the majestic mountain ranges or the mighty, rushing rivers. And some might say the flowers that bloom in the spring or the many amazing creatures that populate our planet. All of those masterpieces are impressive, but none of them are the greatest that God has created.
If you are a Christian you probably saw one of these works of art already today . . . that is, if you looked in a mirror. Yes, YOU are the greatest of God’s masterpieces.
Each one of us is completely unique – there will never be anyone just like you. God knows all of us personally with all our strengths and weaknesses.
David said in
Psalms 139:13-14 NASB For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
God has a plan for us, even before we are conceived
Jeremiah 1:5 NASB "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations"
According to Scripture, there is a unique and custom-designed plan that God has in store just for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.
A masterpiece, when talking about a poem or work of art indicates that it is perfect.When I look at my life, I guarantee you that I don’t see perfection. When we see ourselves, we tend to see our flaws. We see so many things that need to change.Yet God says, that you are His workmanship. “You are my work of art. You are my poem. You are my masterwork.”
Ephesians 2:10 ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God is not like a doting father who’s oblivious to his child’s faults. Rather, He is your all-knowing, yet all-powerful Father in heaven who can see what you will be when it is all said and done. God can look at you and can see what you will become before you have actually become it. We look at ourselves and say, “I don’t get it. This doesn’t look like a perfect person. This doesn’t look like a work of beauty.” , but God sees you through the lens of Jesus’ work on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NASB Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
That's how God sees you. He sees you as the righteousness of God through Christ.
You are a masterpiece that is a work in progress. It is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. It is going to take all of your life on Earth. It won’t be completely finished until you get to heaven.
Then you will see that you indeed are a perfect work of art — God’s masterpiece. God has created you to be a masterpiece so that He could show you off! He has a plan and purpose for you. He wants you to be that showpiece everyone talks about. The next time you look in the mirror say it out loud for your brain to capture. “I am God’s masterpiece!”
Lyrics to “I Can Just Be Me”
I've been doing all that I can
To hold it all together
Piece by piece.
I've been feeling like a failure,
Trying to be braver
Than I could ever be.
It's just not me.
So be my healer, be my comfort, be my peace.
Cause I can be broken, I can be needy,
Lord I need You now to be,
Be my God, so I can just be me.
I've been living like an orphan,
Trying to belong here,
But it's just not my home.
I've been holding on so tightly,
To all the things that I think
Could satisfy my soul.
But I'm letting go
So be my father, my mighty warrior, be my king.
Cause I can be scattered, frail and shattered,
Lord I need You now to be,
Be my God, so I can just be me.
Cause I was lost in this dark world
Until I was finally found in You
So now I'm needing, desperately pleading
Oh Lord, be all to me
And be my savior, be my lifeline, won't You be my everything.
Cause I'm so tired of trying to be someone
I was never meant to be
Be my God
Please be my God
Be my God
So I can just be me
So I can just be me
I can just be me.
Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Laura Story
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