Do you know who you are? You may be inclined to recite your name and where you are from in response to that question, but that's not what I am trying to get to the bottom of today. - Do you REALLY know who you are? If you are a believer in Christ, the only way to appropriately answer that question is by proclaiming, Yes, I am who Christ says I am.
Well, what exactly IS IT that Christ says about you?
Ephesians 2:10 reads: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Please - don’t miss all that's packed into that one statement.
First, you are God’s workmanship which means, you are God’s work of art. You are God’s masterpiece. Created, designed and formed in God’s very own image. Allow me to put it this way - YOU are an image bearer of God who is the creator and ruler of the universe. Take a moment and allow that truth to marinate.
Second, you were created in Christ, which means WHEN YOU WERE born again you literally became a new creation IN Jesus. Your spirit man wasn't merely reformed, no ma’am no sir, it was entirely re-created in the very essence that is Christ our Lord. Brand spanking new on the inside, okay!
Third, you have a God-given purpose! How do I know this? Well, we just read it. Not only are you God’s work of art, created in Christ to do good works. That “good work” is your purpose. Now, you are going to have to get with God and allow Him to impart in you what work he specially created you to do - but know this - we all have God’s good work to do (period).
Lastly, Ephesians 2:10 shows us that we are an object of God’s imagination and thoughts. For it was “in advance” that God planned this good work for us to do, thus we were created in His image in Christ.
Today I want to challenge you to not only look at yourself in a new way, but also see all of God’s creation with this new perspective. Repeat after me:
> I am a new creation in Christ Jesus!
> I am set free from the law of sin which leads to death!
> I was created on purpose for a purpose to do God’s good works!
> I am an object of God's thoughts and creative imagination!
> I am God’s work of Art!
May these truths rest on your heart today and forever. May you know full and well that your true identity is discovered, found and established in Christ alone. When you look in the mirror and at others around you, may your perspective be properly fixed on the fact that you are looking at a work of art, crafted by the very hands of God, creator and giver of life to all. IN Jesus name, Amen.