For we are God’s masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
I once attended a business training course on the power of positive reinforcement. To prove the point that everyone needs to be affirmed, regardless of age or position, the presenter asked an executive to come to the front of the room. The audience was asked to give her all-out clapping, whistling and shouting standing ovation. At first, she smiled and seemed embarrassed but, as the applause continued, big tears began to roll down her cheeks. She knew that they weren’t really clapping for anything she did, but being recognized just feels good.
God designed you this way. You need to know that you are special and important. There’s nothing wrong with this desire. We all need to know that we matter.
However, recognition, position, achievements and titles only give us a temporary sense of self-worth. If we rely on them, they could also can cause us to become prideful because they are based on our own efforts. Actually, many people who have a low sense of self-worth pursue self-worth this way. They end up feeling superior to others in their skills, which is where pride comes in, yet they still feel unlovable and unworthy at their core.
A lasting sense of self-worth—the knowledge that you are loved and accepted when you mess up—can only come from God.
You are God’s masterpiece, and you need to see yourself this way. When we talk about and artist’s masterpiece, we aren’t talking about a practice project or one that he damaged accidentally. His masterpiece is his best work. You are God’s best work—not ordinary or boring but special and one-of-a-kind.