Who Am I? I am God’s Masterpiece.
“This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb…”
– Isaiah 44:24
In the fairytale Snow White, the Queen (step-mother) finds daily disappointment in looking in her mirror only to be told that her beauty doesn’t quite measure up to that of Snow White.
While most children want to be Snow White in that story (or the handsome prince…sorry guys), the reality is that most children grow up to find themselves playing the role of the vain step-mother; obsessed with what their mirrors “tell” them each day.
Imagine the amount of time teens spend looking in the mirror. For many, what they see in that mirror is not a reflection of who they really are, but an image that’s formed through the lens of what others have told them they are. Good or bad, the labels that are put on teens can distort their true identity. Labels such as “fat”, “ugly”, or “reject” can lead to a lack of self-worth and an obsession to change one’s appearance. Labels such as “hot”, “cute”, or “popular” can be just as damaging, often acting like a drug to those who become obsessed with maintaining such an others-pleasing image.
Imagine what would happen if students looked in the mirror, and instead of first noticing their hair, complexion, or shape, they noticed the amazing realization of Isaiah 44:24… they were formed by the Lord. The Hebrew word for formed means to fashion or mold, much like a potter would create a work with a specific purpose in mind. The NLT translation of Ephesians 2:10 communicates this same amazing message, “For we are God’s masterpiece!” What an awesome truth!
When God created you, He assigned a value and purpose to you that is priceless. Because your value has been assigned by your Creator, no label, sin, circumstance, or person can ever change that value.
[bctt tweet=”When God created you, He assigned a value and purpose to you that is priceless.” username=”TrippAtkinson”]
Take time today to thank God for creating you as a masterpiece. Confess to Him the times you’ve accepted labels others have tried to place on you and how you’ve allowed them to shape your identity. Pray that you’ll see the beauty and value God has given you. So, as you look in the mirror today, celebrate that value with the prayer of Psalm 139…
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
– Psalm 139:13-14
*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional. To purchase, click here.