YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE

• There's an amazing museum in the middle of Paris. It’s called the Louvre.

• I’m convinced that is just French for “the line.”

• The whole winding walk through the museum is basically a mile-long line.

• Every nook and cranny of the museum displays some of the best art in the world.

• Masterful works by Monet, Delacroix, Rembrandt, and Da Vinci decorate the winding hallways and galleries.

• All the motion in this museum leads to one final room—the home of the most famous painting in all the world.

• When you finally get there, it's pretty... underwhelming.

• There it is, surrounded by bulletproof glass and four armed guards—the Mona Lisa.

• The Mona Lisa is an ordinary portrait of an ordinary person with nothing else going for it.

• Plus, it’s small. This whole painting is no bigger than a poster.

• Here is the wild thing about that painting. It is insured at over $100 million. That can buy dozens of mansions, thirty Rolls-Royce cars, or 400 million chicken nuggets.

• That is an insane amount of money.

• Here is the kicker, though. I can go on Amazon and buy the exact same painting as a poster for twelve bucks.

• Why are the prices so different? They both look the same, right?

• Neither is prettier than the other, nor do they serve different functions.

• The value lies in the fingerprints of the artist.

• That original painting has Da Vinci’s handiwork all over it.

• You can see the character of his strokes, fingerprints, blemishes, and his signature.

• The famous artist’s craftsmanship provides the piece’s unbelievable value.

TENSION

• Did you know that you are a lot like the Mona Lisa?

• No, I don’t mean you’re a drab portrait sitting behind bulletproof glass.

• Not at all. You are God’s artwork. You are the custom creation of the greatest Creator in history.

• Your identity and intrinsic value come from your designer.

• Let’s take a look at how the Apostle Paul explains it in Ephesians chapter two.

• Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians while surrounded by armed guards.

• This is one of his prison epistles.

• Every word was written behind bars.

• Paul wrote this letter from a place of grave concern.

• The Ephesian Church had allowed pagan mysticism to creep into their theology.

• Ultimately, this theological concoction created a twisted perspective of humanity and identity.

• Paul stepped in to set the record straight—God wants to transform you from the inside out.

• This single verse gives us two timeless truths about the true nature of our identity.

You Were Created as God’s Masterpiece

• Let’s dig into one word in this verse—handiwork.

• The Greek word here is actually poeme.

• This is directly related to our word “poem” and basically means “work of art” or “masterpiece.

• God is saying that you are His masterpiece.

• Just like the Mona Lisa, you have the fingerprints of an artist all over you.

• Every personality trait, every distinction, every freckle, and every characteristic is a distinct brush stroke of our Savior.

• Where does your worth come from? It’s in the artist who created you.

• God made you and then broke the mold.

• Jesus loves you more than you could comprehend.

• You are His masterpiece.

• You are treasured.

• Your value does not come from who you are. Rather, it comes from who made you.

• You belong to Jesus.

• Have you ever worked hard on something just for someone to criticize it? It’s tough.

• It hurts the creator to have their creation criticized.

• Think about that the next time you tear yourself down.

• It’s normal to struggle with your identity, but God made you with a purpose in mind.

• Next time you’re being hard on yourself, search the Bible to learn the truth God says about you.

• When you are insecure about your appearance, God says you are beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Beauty is your identity.

• When you feel like the world is against you, God says He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Victory is your identity.

• When you feel like you’ve messed up beyond repair, God says He will forgive you and give you a clean slate as soon as you confess (1 John 1:9). Mercy is your identity.

• If you’re wrestling with negative thoughts that diminish the person God created you to be, search Scripture to learn the true identity that God has given to you.

• Doing a basic Google search for “Bible verses on…” or looking through the topics in the back of your Bible’s index will point you toward life-giving truth.

• Ephesians 2 shows how God sees you as His creation and then answers another vital question: why were you created in the first place?

You Were Created for Good Works

• What were you made for?

• This is a question everyone asks at one point or another.

• Our minds often approach this question with our future occupation in mind.

• We say things like “I was made to be a teacher, nurse, engineer, or a professional ice cream taster.”

• Sure, your future job is important, but it’s only a small sliver of your ultimate calling.

• Your occupation is what you’re paid for, but your purpose is what you’re made for.

• This verse directly answers the above question. This verse directly answers the above question.

• You were “made to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

• You are a masterpiece with a mission.

• When God created you, He also created specific “good works” for you in the future.

• So what were you made for? To live a life that glorifies God and gives back to the people He loves.

• Show God’s love wherever you go.

• Serve people with an open heart.

• Stand up for what is right.

• Give to those in need.

• This is so much bigger than a specific job—it’s your intentional design.

Landing:

We live in the era of YouTube stars, Instagram followers, and overnight celebrities.

• In a recent survey by UCLA, nearly one-third of teenagers said that “becoming famous” was important to them.

• This is a dramatic increase from years before. We live in a culture that is obsessed with fame and popularity.

• Think about this, though: The God of the whole universe knows you, loves you, and is fighting for you.

• He created the stars, but He wants to write your story.

• He is King over the whole planet, but He has a plan for your life.

• That is way better than fame—the God of all creation knows your name and invites you to live for Him.

TALK IT OUT 

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker:

Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week, and what was the lowest part of your week?

Q1: What stuck out to you from today’s message?

Q2: What specifically makes the original Mona Lisa so valuable? How does that apply to your identity?

Q3: How does knowing that God intentionally made you the way you are change the way you see yourself?  

Q4: What is one trait God has given you that you like about yourself?

Q5: How can we stop tearing ourselves down over the things we don’t like about ourselves? 

Q6: What purpose do you think God has for your life right now? Remember, God created you for good works that demonstrate His love to others.

Application: What can you do this week to replace self-critical thoughts with the truth about who God made you to be?

READING PLAN

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Psalm 25:1-15

Ephesians 2:1-10 

Ephesians 5:11-21

Proverbs 16:1-9

Genesis 1:27

John 1:12 

Colossians 4:2-6 1

Timothy 6:11-21 

Romans 6:6  1

John 3:1-2 

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.