Often times we struggle with the way God made us ... you know, the shape or size of our body, or the personality that we have and even the abilities that we have been given. It is so easy for us to define ourselves by the way we look at ourselves in the mirror.When a masterpiece is created, the artist envisions the complete potential and beauty that their artwork contains. I was reminded of this when my husband and I visited Europe a few years ago. We toured the Louvre, the famous art museum where famous masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa are on display. The Mona Lisa, as beautiful as it is, hangs in a museum, displayed behind thick glass, and guarded heavily by guards. Even the museum visitors cannot get very close to it. Mona Lisa is indeed a masterpiece, but what use does it have?
Another masterpiece I learned about while in Europe was artwork created by Antonio Stradivari. Antonio created more than one thousand violins, harps, guitars, viola's and cellos during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Each "Stradivari's" is a treasured masterpiece - no other instrument can compare.
The difference between the Mona Lisa and this masterpiece is that these instruments were not made to sit on a shelf, or be on display in a museum. Instead, they were created to be placed in the hands of a master musician to create beautiful music.
We are masterpieces, created by the ultimate Creator!
Created to be like the Stradivarius violin, our beauty and value can be seen as we are useful in the Kingdom of God. What joy it brings our Master when our lives become a masterpiece that He can use.
I am thankful today on THANKFUL THURSDAY for the Master and for the beauty and usefulness He has created in me. I am His masterpiece! How about you...what are you thankful for today? Please share your grateful heart with us by linking your Thankful Thursday post below in Mr. Linky....
22 comments:
The first time I'd ever heard of a Stradivarius violin was in a historical Christian fiction novel. In that novel, it talked about how rare it was to find one at that time of the setting of the book.
Thanks for your wonderful post!
Karen
Love your beautiful TT post! Especially the thought that we were not made to sit on the shelf!
So very true! May we all be useful to the work of the Kingdom!
Bless you,
Susan
Wonderful blessings.
BEAUTIFUL post! Thank you for your lovely words this Thankful Thursday!
Thank you for hosting; bless you!
Thank you for this good reminder. It's so easy to get caught up in the negative and forget that we are His creations created for His purpose.
Oh Laurie,
What a beautiful post and girl, what amazing things happen when we DO place ourlives in the Master's hand.
BIG hugs and happy TT.
This is a beautiful analogy. I struggle so much with my weight. I know that my body doesn't define who I am but since I have to dwell in it until He calls me home, I want to take care of this temple which houses the Holy Spirit. I do think that when we are obese, it hinders our witness because we are seen as undisciplined.The world looks at the outside. God is concerned with the inside.
Thank you for hosting TT.
Mama Bear
Great examples of masterpieces Laurie. How thankful that God uses us in this world to reflect His glory. How amazing is that?
Thanks for sharing this scripture with us, Laurie. We just studied this in our SS class. It's amazing to think that God thinks of me as a masterpiece! But I know it's true because His word says so ...
I also appreciate the thought that we are not meant to sit on the shelf!
Beautiful words...may we always allow the Lord to use us as He intended....
It is a coincidence that you wrote about masterpieces and I am in an art show this evening. I hope it is a good omen for me!
Thank you for reminding me of the God-created beauty I am! in His eyes!
May your day be blessed. ~ linda
Great post, Laurie.
Such a wonderfully uplifting thing to think about for Thankful Thursday! Thank yoU!
we are works of art created will to do his will
Laurie, you inspire me! What a wonderful way of connecting our being a masterpiece to a Stradivarius.
You are loved.
What a beautiful post! God doesn't make mistakes, we are all masterpieces. Thank God =)
Hello,
Thank you for hosting TT. I had a similar discussion with a good friend. She was encouraging me, telling me that God made us humans to be His perfect creature, on top of the pyramid. So He saves the best for us, and wants us to develop to our full potential. Your post came as the jewell on the crown. Thank you.
Love the topic of simplicity -- we let life get too crazy. Thanks!
Joining you today in thankful Thursday for the first time. I am always blessed to read all of the posts.
Not quite sure how to post the code for the picture, but I'll figure it out.
Splashing for His glory,
Sarah Dawn
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