God’s Masterpiece

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)

So many people today are trying to figure out what their purpose is.  Don’t get me wrong it’s a great question to come to terms with.  Why am I here?  What am I supposed to be doing?  Does anyone even care?  When will I know?  Will it be too late when I figure it out? Questions that I found myself asking in my late teens.  To be honest with you, I didn’t like most of the answers.  Answers like… Life is what you make it, Life is meaningless,  Life is an accident, You live for about a hundred years… you die… and that’s it.

Really!?!  That’s it???  Depressing stuff huh?

I really wrestled with these questions, until one day I stumbled upon James 1:18, where it says… ¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Two thoughts.  First of all He’s the God of second chances.  God chose to give us birth through the word of truth.  That being Jesus Christ, His son.  Let that resonate with you.  God’s love for me is so great that He took my place on the cross?  For you too!  Second thought is that in all of creation.  With everything God created, mountains, oceans, stars, galaxies, heaven and earth… EVERYTHING… I’m His very favorite.  You are His very favorite.  You and I are God’s masterpiece.  From worthless to worthy, from meaningless to meaningful, from junk to masterpiece.

I can’t tell you all things God created you for, but His word tells us that you are His masterpiece, created to do the good things He had planned for you before you were born, before history began.  You are no accident.  Your life is not happens chance.  Your life is the artistic genius of God Himself.  You are God’s masterpiece.

Go look in a mirror and see God’s masterpiece.

Now that you know…   what will you do?  who will you tell?

a gate called Beautiful

a man crippled from birth was being
carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day
to beg from those going into the temple courts.3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Acts 3:2-3

Every find yourself wanting, wishing, hoping for something more or just something else.  Maybe it was a middle school crush that went south, or finishing up high school, hoping for a higher SAT or ACT score to get into your dream college.  Maybe in exiting college there were hopes of 6 figured salaries, or a God made mate for you to start your family with.  Maybe your there right now.  Wanting… Wishing… Hoping for…

It’s very possible that you are at the gate of Beautiful, and have no idea about the beautiful encounter you are about to have.  More than you could ever have dreamed, more than you could ever have wished, and higher than you could of ever hoped for.  That moment when the blurry becomes crystal clear, when ahhh turns into an ahh-ha!, when the purposeless loses the less and your life becomes full of purpose.  It’s that moment when for you Jesus goes from being a religion to a relationship, from ritual to romance, from avoidance to adventurous.  Jesus becomes TRUTH, SALVATION, HOPE, PURPOSE, PASSION, LIFE, YOUR WAY, LIFE

When you encounter Christ at the Gate of Beautiful EVERYTHING changes!

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,10 they
recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple
gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement
at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:6-10

EVERYTHING changes!

God Made You, YOU!

I’m reading back through a study on King David and this morning am reminded that God made me uniquely to be me.  That my gifts and talents are not like those of Pastor Ed Young Jr., the Bishop T.D. Jakes, or my friend Pastor David Hughes. (all guys that I admire and learn from)  I’m Matt Boone.  Grew up in a town of less than 1500, graduated High School with a class of 36 friends, and was parented by an amazing father and mother that loved and supported even when (I or they) didn’t always get everything right.  I’m one of the many sons of our Great Father in Heaven, saved by the grace of Christ Jesus.  I’m Matt Boone, designed and created by God and for God.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The young soon to be King David, was not Saul.  In 1 Samuel 17:38-19, David comes to terms with this when King Saul tries to dress David for battle in his kingly armor.  David’s basically says that this is not me, give me my shepherd slingshot and point in the direction of the giant.

Do You ever find yourself trying to be someone you are not?  Someone you admire?
Do you every struggle not living up to that personality?

Well stop it!!!  God made them to be them, to accomplish what He wants to for His glory.
He made you to be you to accomplish what He wants to for His glory.

By verses 45-47 David is letting Goliath know that he was showing up in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.

David knew that he was created by God and for God.

God created you to be you.  Be You for HIM!