Masterpieces

Posted by Doug Bentle on Jun 14, 2011 in Daily Bread | 3 comments

Women like flowers. But several years after I finally learned to occasionally bring home flowers, something changed. Dani said, “You know, flowers are nice. But they die and get smelly. Seems like the money could be spent on something else.” Time went by, and I rarely brought home flowers. On special occasions I might, but usually not.

Years later we were at a golf tournament, watching my son Jordan compete. After the players finished, I wanted to hear the Coach’s comments to the team. Ready to go, Dani said she’d wait by the car. As we approached, she met us holding a small flower. She didn’t give us a choice; we HAD to look at the flower. Had to. Hot and sweaty, neither Jordan nor I had even a marginal interest. But Dani was not to be denied.

Alternating between shoving the flower in our faces and gazing at it herself, she marveled at the detail and beauty. Her eyes welled up as she talked about our amazing God. That even on the side of a golf club parking lot in no-where-ville Georgia, God would choose to bring to life such a spectacularly beautiful and intricate plant. Pretty amazing.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of the passage toward the end of Matthew 6 about worrying. Verses 28 through 30.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31

But He also reminded me of Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Most translations say “workmanship” instead of “handiwork.” But my favorite is the NLT version.

10 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.

So while Dani’s flower was amazing, WE are what HE considers his masterpieces. I was humbled to think that maybe God had created the precious little wildflower simply to encourage Dani, Jordan and me. But I felt even more humbled and loved, because while the flower was clearly a masterpiece, He was holding me and thinking the same thing.

Our life might feel like we’re growing in a golf club parking lot in the middle of nowhere. But we’re still His handiwork, His workmanship. Dani’s flower was a spectacular reflection of God’s glory. So are we when we’re about the “good things he planned for us long ago.” My prayer today is that I reflect His glory to everyone around me. And I pray the same for you.