The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide "The Master Craftsman" Tuesday, 18 February 2014 Read Isaiah 43

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide "The Master Craftsman" Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Read Isaiah 43:1 But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob,
    and he who formed you, Israel says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
    I have called you by your name.
    You are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
    and flame will not scorch you.
3 For I am Yahweh your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    your Savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
    Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you have been precious and honored in my sight,
    and I have loved you;
    therefore I will give people in your place,
    and nations instead of your life.
5 Don’t be afraid; for I am with you.
    I will bring your offspring[a] from the east,
    and gather you from the west.
6 I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
    Bring my sons from far,
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
    and whom I have created for my glory,
    whom I have formed,
    yes, whom I have made.’”
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 43:5 or, seed
You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.~~Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)
My father creates quivers for bow-hunters. He carves into genuine leather intricate pictures of wildlife. During my last visit, he carved the details of an eagle into a side-quiver. Pressing a blade into the supple leather, he varied the pressure to create different textures that gave his artwork dimension. Then he covered the leather with crimson dye, magnifying its beauty. As my father designed another masterpiece, I thought of how often I forget to appreciate God’s creativity in others and in myself. The Bible teaches that all people are important to God and designed with unique qualities and purpose. The apostle Paul tells us that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). Learning more about the Lord by studying the Bible helps us view others as God’s beloved masterpieces. Like the pliable leather my father carved, our worth is determined by the love and creativity of our Creator. We each have value as one-of-a-kind creations, simply because we are made by God.~~The Author~Xochi E. Dixon (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: To see a picture of Xochi’s dad making his quivers, go to devotional.upperroom.org/blog.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to accept your perfect love and to see others and ourselves as your unique masterpieces, created in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those seeking affirmation and acceptance
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