Craftsman or Artist???

I was at a spiritual retreat on Saturday last weekend and I found it very interesting as it again brought to mind "God the Craftsman". Scripture talks about us being his workmanship: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them".

I beleive that God is the master craftsman that draws out the essence of our being; the gifts of the spirit, and the natural talents and gifts that have been embedded deep within us. He places us in situations that draw out these parts of who we are, often parts that he knows are there and we may not. Even if we are aware of them we may not know how or when to use them. Often God describes us as trees, in such a way that it requires us to look at the whole picture, what can be seen and what can't. He describes us as such in Jeremiah 17:7-8
But Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord
whose confidence is in him
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes
its leaves are always green
It has no worries in ayear of drought
and never fails to bare fruit.

I believe that God works the situations around us to determine the fruit crop that he wants at the time. Our situations create opportunities to develop the "Fruits of the Spirit" to enable the "Gifts of the Spirit" to be maximised. I guess for me those with the fruit of the spirit are like the difference between a guided and unguided missile -  both are powerful, but one is expenientally more useful. God uses our circumstances to mold us much like the Bonsai Master, creating the tree we need to be. Fortunately or unfortunately the bonsai process can be long, difficult and restrictive for the tree. The result however is beauty and art.

M. Scott Peck makes a statement that "Life is Difficult......Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand it and accept it - then life is no longer difficult" This is an interesting concept that bares thinking about and struggling with, but that is another blog.

I will finish with this quote:

“He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” ― St. Francis of Assisi

 

GOD: Craftsman or Artist?

 I will let you decide.

p.s. I am very time poor at the momment, but have lots of thoughts, so bare with me for the next couple of weeks. I will be back to writing write a couple of times a week,  after another two weeks.

 

Regards Paul