In year 2014 our theme was Isaiah 58:6-14

As I do each year in November, I started to ask God what the theme for our fellowship should be for next year. This is a process that takes several days as I begin to listen intently to hear his word. The way God has led us in the past 4 to 5 years, taking us from one exciting step to the next each year; I was listening in anticipation of what new direction He wants us to take this year.

God impressed upon my heart sometime in late November the theme for this year will remain the same as last year. Perhaps we did not do a good job of the task set for us by God last year. I thought God wanted us to do more good works.

God also gave me an add-on verse and I began to understand why He gave us the same theme for a second year.

For we are God's masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life. - Ephesians 2:10

When we think about Ephesians 2:10 and our theme verses in Isaiah 58, we naturally think that the good works refer to doing good for others, charity, etc. But there is more to it than that.

The good works are really good actions - our walk, talk, behavior, our relationships, our goals, our aspirations. These are the things we do on a daily basis.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. - Philippians 2:3-4

If we go back to Isaiah 58, we see that those verses also speak about behavioral and attitude adjustments that mark a true fast in the sight of God.

Behavior & Relationships – Isaiah 58:9

If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

Reverence and Preference to God’s ways – Isaiah 58:13

And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words

Not doing our own things, but the actions of God - Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

We are God’s workmanship

Ephesians 2:10 also says that we are a product of God’s work. He is the potter, we are the clay. We need to recognize this fact first.

Workmanship is the product or result of labor and skill; work executed.A famous artist is known by his work. As an example, Leonardo DA Vinci is best known for his portrait of the Mona Lisa; Michelangelo’s breathtaking Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

The artist sees the finished masterpiece on an empty canvas, God sees us as Diamonds in the rough. It is God’s desire to be known by His masterpieces – You and I.

About 20 years ago, at a prayer meeting someone prophesied to me and said that I was a diamond of great value. I loved to hear that, but I know that I was no diamond the way I was then and even now. God who was working on making the precious jewel out of the rough stone that I am, was referring me to the finished product under His workmanship.

God is the great diamond cutter.

He will transform us to the precious jewels He sees us to be, if only we let Him work on us.

If we see us a diamonds being cut and shaped; let’s look at some characteristics of this process.

Stone - We are all chosen/ selected by the master craftsman. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world - Ephesians 1: 4

Cut - The quality of workmanship is in the angles that reflect the maximum amount of light and create the best sparkle.

• Shallow: No firm foundation; easily swayed; living like the world
• Deep: Self-important; Know it all; Not flexible to let God use him
• Ideal: The master’s cut which reflects His light perfectly

Which cut should we be?

Shape - The shape is different from the cut. There are a number of shapes that a diamond can be cut to, depending on the nature of the original stone.

We are all fashioned for God’s purposes into different shapes and sizes. Each valuable and designed for a specific purpose. 2 Tim 2:20 (different vessels for different occasions).

Clarity - Clarity corresponds to the purity of a diamond. Most diamonds have tiny "birthmarks" known as inclusions. A diamond that has minimal inclusions and surface blemishes are rare and more valuable.

Inclusions are present in us as part of our very nature. We must strive to reduce these impurities (fleshly nature) in our lives so that more of God’s light can shine through.

Conclusion:

Our good works/actions are the reflection of light you see in a finished diamond with the perfect cut and clarity. We do not become a finished work all at once. God allows us to go through a process, one that may be painful, as He molds us, chisels us, and sculpts us into what He desires us to be.

The process of cutting and grinding the diamond is hard on the stone itself. It endures the process and is turned into a beautiful and valuable object. The more we let God grind out the impurities, the more brilliant we become.

• The role of the diamond while it is being cut:
• The object yields to the master’s hands – allows the master free reign
• The object does not give advice to the artist
• The object does not complain
• The object is patient.
• The finished object displays the master’s design.

When we yield to the Lord and let Him cut off our rough edges, and make good actions our way of life.

Final thought:

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. - Philippians 3:12

Let us recognize the masterpiece that God sees us to be and as the verse says above, be focused on running towards that goal.