Unique

(5-16-04)

Phil.2:4-16

“…it is God who is at work in you…” An artist will labor over their work until they have finished what was in their mind to do. When they are done, they put their signature to their work. At that point it is a one of a kind original. There is no other quite like it. God is doing a work in each of you that by His very design is a Jehovah original. He alone holds the vision of what and who you are in Him. It is God who is the master at work.

          A painter looks for the right canvas and the right colors, a sculpturer look for just the right piece of wood or just the right slab of rock. What does God look for? That depends on what He intends on making, doesn’t it?

          We have several problems to visit in this area: our estimations of what or who is usable material and accepting God’s estimations of who and what is usable. The raw material is fallen humanity. The finished product is a resurrected child of God. Just like a piece of wood in the craftmans hands, God looks for what is hidden in the grain. Every storm, drought  and rain has it effect on what lies under the surface.

          No two people have weathered the same storm in the same way. You may have similar backgrounds but how the experiences of life have played out in each ones development can be as radically different as night and day. Only God can see the intricate nature of who you are and He alone can see what is your unique qualifications for His purposes.

          Our tenancy to sin in the area of judgement over who might or might not be worthy is likely off the charts. What most of us want to find is someone who is already near on to perfect just like we are so that we will be able to easily get along with them. Only after we have given our evaluation and acceptance will we then tolerate their presence in our lives. What is worse is that when we go through this kind of check list what we are really doing is looking to see if they are like we are and if not we start to put demands upon them so that they will adjust to fit our image. An image based on ourselves. This is a dark, destroying, evil. 

          In our reading from Phil.2:10 we see that it is at the name of Jesus that every knee should bow and in verse 11 every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. When any person is drawn to this conclusion by the calling of God they have been slit open by the masters hands.

The master jeweler takes the raw diamond that has been formed by the extreme pressures and heat of its subterranean formation examines its inner-core. When He has determined the lay of its fault lines He sets His tool and strikes it. What comes out of the hammer blow of the master is uniquely facetted like no other in color, size, and richness of depth. You are like that diamond in the hands of the Almighty.

          You have been formed in the raw by all the fires and pressures of live for it is these elements that have shaper the character of who you are. God puts a call on your heart to come to Him so that He can release you from the bondage to decay. In releasing, you are granted the freedom to become what He has seen lies embedded under that fleshly exterior. A facetted jewel extraordinar. One capable of reflecting the brilliance of Gods light in all its vibrant colors.  “..it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Phil.2:13 (Heb.13:20-21) “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!”