Craftsman

I really love Craftsman tools, and they are just what the word means. Craftsman (def) - A craftsman is a highly skilled worker who practices a specific trade or handicraft, typically creating functional or decorative objects by hand. Often synonymous with an artisan, a true craftsman is recognized for painstaking precision, technical dexterity, and a masterful understanding of their materials. My son, Seth, is a craftsman, and his creations are impressive, but nothing compared to our Heavenly Father's.

In Psalm 19, we read David's description of God as a craftsman, and then he describes God's craftsmanship. Psalm 19: ¹ The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. ² Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. ³ They speak without a sound or word;n their voice is never heard. ⁴ Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God's glory is seen in the way He crafted all He did, and keep in mind you are part of His creative process as well. The Apostle Paul called us God's masterpiece, which means we are at the top of all His creations. Ephesians 2:¹⁰ 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. God said this as well in Genesis 1:³¹ Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

When thinking about where we fit into God's plan, it is easy to see that God has good plans for each of us who are born again. Then we face the enemy's plan for each of us, and here are his plans according to Jesus in John 10: 1^{0 T}he thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. The truth is 'we have an enemy,' and he is constantly trying to keep God's masterpiece from flourishing, but we are encouraged to know that God doesn't leave us without His covering when we need it, and that is a lot.

King David described how much we need the Holy Spirit to empower us, lead us, and protect us. You may say, "Where did he say that?" Psalm 19: ¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins!    Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Because of Jesus, we have the righteousness of God, and that righteousness leads us to follow His ways and not the ways of the enemy.

King David really lets his inner thoughts and fears be see in the following verses in Psalm 19: ¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. ¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins! David's desire is to live a righteous life, but his sins are always lurking in the shadows of his heart. We, on the other hand, have God's grace always defeating the attacks of the enemy who tries to get us to sin and thus desert the calling God has on our lives. We live in God's grace and mercy, and God works through us, and His power is evident even in the lives of sinners, because we are not only saved from the penalty of our sin, but we are regenerated, or made new, in our soul, and that gives us the freedom to serve, as only God enables us to do. We are His craftsmanship and His masterpiece, and He wants to come alive in each of us. What is the holdup? Our lack of faith and the lack of understanding from His Word. Solution: Study God's Word and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God to you, and you will find yourself looking into the sky and marveling at the other words of the Master. I did just this morning.

When you get this Godly confidence, you may seem 'over the top' to those who are just getting along, but just say to them, "I am a child of the King," and all will be well. Keep on flying higher and higher in the wonderful grace and freedom of God. If all this confuses you then read Isaiah 40: ³¹ But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Take it from me, who was diagnosed with Stage four cancer two months ago, and am still serving full steam ahead with God's strength!! God doesn't make mistakes. I am a child of the Creator. God is still working, and I like it!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren