Day 5: How Do You Treat a Masterpiece?
Because GOD IS THE CREATOR KING, I know He made me special! I can trust His plan for me!
Read or quote the memory verse: 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. Ephesians 2:10, Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Sometimes it's hard to remember that every person is God's masterpiece! A boy named Jack made it particularly difficult. Listen to his story:
Strong Arm Jack and His Discovery
"Strong Arm Jack" stood tall and confident as he stepped up to the plate. If anyone could hit it out of the ballpark, it was Jack. A chant from the crowd started low and built to a loud roar as the pitcher wound up for the throw.
"Go, Jack go! Go, Jack, go!"
Never mind that Jack was the meanest kid in Star Elementary School. Never mind that he stole kids lunches and ruled the playground with terror. Right now, Jack was their only hope for the City Trophy. Right now, Jack was their hero.
"Go, Jack, go! GO, JACK, GO!"
Jack swung once.
"Strike one!" the umpire shouted above the roar.
Jack swung twice.
"Strike two!" the umpire shouted to the surprised crowd.
All was quiet when the third pitch raced toward Jack's bat. He sliced the bat through the air with all the power he could muster.
"Strike three, you're out!" the umpire's voice rang in his ears. The silence from his team and fans cut his heart, and the voice inside his head shouted, "You are a failure! You can't do anything right. You're worthless!"
The next week was more miserable than usual for Jack. He didn't show it, of course. He didn't want them to know he felt like a failure. He didn't want them to know that things at home were bad and that his performance at the game made it worse. He didn't want anyone to know that he didn't like himself, and so he acted like he hated everyone else.
On Friday, he sat by himself at lunch, staring at his sandwich and thinking about who he could make feel as miserable as he was. That's when Will's voice pulled his attention back to the lunch room.
"Hey, Jack!" Jack looked up to see Will smiling.
"What do you want, pipsqueak?" Jack grumbled as he ripped a bite from the PB&J.
Will Graham was the smallest boy in his class, a fact Jack rubbed in constantly, but for some reason, Will didn't seem bothered by it.
"I just want you to know that I think you're an amazing ball player. I love to watch you bat. You've been given a real gift, Jack. No one can be perfect all the time, but that doesn't mean you're not an incredible player."
Jack was too surprised to say anything, so he just stared back at Will.
"I was wondering," Will continued, "would you like to sit with some of us for lunch?"
Will smiled at Jack, and Jack felt something he hadn't felt in a long time, accepted.
"Uh, sure, okay." Jack mumbled. As he gathered his lunch, Jack did something no one at Star Elementary had ever seen. Strong Arm Jack smiled.
- - -
What are some reasons Jack was so mean? (Things at home were bad; he felt like a failure; he didn't think anyone liked him.)
What did Jack do to deserve kindness from Will? (Nothing.)
Listen to what the Bible says in Genesis 1:27:
So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. - Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Now listen to what God said a few verses later in Genesis 1:31:
Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good...! - Discover God Bible, (NLT).
God, the Creator/King, made every person He created in His image.
Does that mean we look like Him? (Not physically! It means we have a spirit and a soul that will live forever. It means He gave us the ability to reflect some of His attributes--like love, truth, mercy, faithfulness, and desire for relationships.)
What does the verse say God thought about His creation? (It was good!)
Here's an amazing truth: Every person you know is a masterpiece created by the Creator/King! Not everyone makes choices that please the Creator/King, but that doesn't make him less valuable to Him and it shouldn't make them less valuable to us. From the moment a baby starts his life in his Mother's tummy, he or she is a masterpiece.
Do you remember how Jesus said we are to treat our enemies? (Love them.)
This is so different from what we want to do to our enemies!
When someone hates you, says bad things about you, or hurts you, what do you want to do to him?
Remember the story of the Good Samaritan? He took care of the injured man (who was his enemy) after the man's "friends" (religious leaders) had left him to die. Why? (Because the Samaritan saw the hurt man and wanted to help him even though he didn't know him. He cared about all kinds of people.)
Is there someone you are treating more like garbage than a masterpiece? If so, what can you do to change that? (Ask God for a heart of compassion toward the person, try to say nice things even if he/she is mean...)
Luke 6:27,28,31 says:
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you . . . Do to others as you would like them to do to you. - Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Why does it matter?
Because God is the Creator/King, all His creation has value, especially human beings.
Because God is the Creator/King, every single person is a masterpiece that God considered very important.
Talk with God and Stay Connected to the Vine!
Talk to God about the people you are having trouble being kind to. Ask Him to help you see them as His Masterpiece and to show you how to treat them the same way you would liket to be treated.
Action Point
Because God is Creator King, I will ________________________.
(Note: Fill in the blank by sharing a specific action point.)
All Bible Times for God Is Creator King