Do You Recognize His Workmanship? - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 22
Do You Recognize His Workmanship?
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown
Bible Reading:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10
If I’m ever blessed with a son, there’s one underrated lesson I want to impart: Be teachable. I want him to be willing to learn from the obvious places like the Bible, his teachers, his parents, and his family. Yet, the not-so-obvious places like secondhand experiences and fictional stories are also valuable.
Not everything he hears will be accurate, but being teachable doesn’t mean being naive. Instead, a teachable mindset means being willing to learn from all experiences. That entails knowing what to do and what not to do. Moreover, when people give him feedback, he should hear them out, even if he doesn’t ultimately change anything.
God created us for “good works,” but those who aren’t teachable don’t get to experience the fullness of this truth. Teachable people are works in progress. Emphasis on progress. They are like a craft being fine-tuned. We are prevented from realizing our full potential when we don’t fully realize this workmanship.
I was reminded of this recently when talking with a friend from college. Those school days were about a decade ago, and back then, she was sad, lonely, and seeking purpose. All these years later, it’s even worse. Despite any insight offered to her by her parents or friends, she always has a response. There’s always a justification for her behavior. We are always wrong, and she is always right.
In reality, she is not teachable. She doesn’t recognize what God created her for. However, we don’t have to live stuck in the same old cycles of misery and sorrow. When we allow ourselves to be teachable, we open ourselves up to change.
When you recognize that you are made in God's image, suddenly, you don’t feel the burden of living a purposeless or fleeting life. Instead, we recognize a deeper vocation, one that inspires motivation and happiness—a calling that tells us we are living for more than just ourselves, and we are all the better because of it.
God created you intentionally. There are unique responsibilities and goals that He wants you to fulfill, and you can. While we can settle for the world, being teachable leads us to something more. Therefore, ask yourself, do you recognize His workmanship?
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Seeing God at work in your life is not always easy. That’s especially true when things aren’t going your way. Disappointments and setbacks can make us question our purpose and God’s design.
If He loved me, why is He allowing this? If God created me, why am I so broken?
Whenever those thoughts or anything like them crop up, remember, you are made in His image. You are His workmanship. The trick is always to find ways to recognize and recall that.
Pursue God
We all know those who call themselves Christians, but don’t pursue God. They avoid church, reading the Bible, and discussing faith-related topics. Perhaps, that’s where you are right now. I’ve certainly been there. We can all find one reason or another to avoid God, but the better way to live is to pursue Him. We experience His presence, goodness, peace, and more when we do. In addition to that, we recognize His workmanship.
When life gets difficult, and it will, where will we turn? The world offers nothing lasting, no matter how tempting. On the other hand, God cares about us. He made us with intention, preserves us with intention, and will guide us.
When pursuing God is the norm, we have an easier time overcoming troubles and living purposefully. Not because we are all-powerful, but because we worship a God who is.
Gain Wisdom
The Bible talks plenty about gaining wisdom. Scripture even compares the wise to the foolish several times, implicitly and explicitly. Wise people do things like study the Bible, actively listen, and keep good company. They are also teachable, open to learning, no matter the situation.
Being teachable requires a shift in mindset. You have to be willing to say that no matter your age, no matter how great you think you are, there’s still room for improvement. There are still ways God can make you better.
Not everything you hear from man will be true, but with wisdom, you will be able to glean what is and use that to better your relationship with God, and ultimately, your entire life.
Further Reading:
Genesis 1:27
Colossians 3:10
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 19:20
2 Timothy 3:16
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/rparobe
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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