It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10
This concept gives me pause.
If we are God’s handiwork, then that means that I myself am God’s work. And since God is perfect, then he intentionally created me as I am.
The good parts, yes, but also the bits that I consider “defective.” When someone is born with birth defects, that’s part of God’s plan. Being born into poverty is part of the plan.
That sure is a different concept of perfection, right?
And Jesus tried to tell us this. Everyone is created in God’s image, no matter what your station in life. Being born blind is just as good as being the richest person on the planet.
Even better, because you more readily accept God’s gifts in your life.
So the question for me today is: Am I accepting today that everything I am, everything I have, is from God and according to His plan? Even when it doesn’t look “perfect” in the eyes of the world?