Masterpiece In The Making

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…” – Matthew 7:12a

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” – Luke 6:31

These verses talk about the Golden Rule – Treat others as you want to be treated. But what about when it comes to ourselves? Does it matter how we talk to/treat ourselves? Does it matter what we tell ourselves and make ourselves believe?

I think it does matter, but so many times in my life I’ve struggled to believe that I have just as much worth (because I’ve been made in God’s image) as anyone else I see in the world. And I think I have so much trouble believing the truth because my mind is on myself. I’m focused on my mistakes, things I wish I hadn’t said, how I’ve treated others, but I focus on those things in a condemning way instead of having a repentant heart and turning from my sin.

The instant I ask myself, “Would you treat someone else the way you’re treating yourself?” something changes in my mindset. Sadly, sometimes the answer might be yes; I often put a higher standard of perfection on others than on myself. But some of the things I’ve told myself, I would never say to someone else! At least to their face. And if not to their face, I shouldn’t be saying it at all.

I wonder what would happen if, when we’re in a negative mindset of focusing on our mistakes and condemning ourselves, we imagine ourselves as a different person completely. We didn’t see all the mistakes that person has ever made, all the people they’ve hurt, all the words they wish they could take back. What if we saw that person as a child of God, made in His image, and something He takes great delight in. Why would we call that person names, tear them apart, point out all their flaws and mistakes? Why would we beat them up when they’re already down?

You and I are that child. You and I are that person that God takes delight in, that He loves, and that He created so beautifully and uniquely in His image. He doesn’t want us to hurt that person just as much as He doesn’t want us to hurt any other child of His.

We’re a work in progress. We are God’s masterpiece that He’s not yet finished. We’re going to stumble and slip up. He knows that. And freedom can come when we realize that too, when we stop putting so much pressure on ourselves to attain this unreachable level of perfection. Freedom can come when we stop the spiral of anger towards ourselves, breathe, and rest in the truth that God is still molding us to be like His Son Jesus. Doing this allows us to clear our minds and provides us with an opportunity to take one next step, to pick up our Bible and read, to pray for someone, to serve someone else etc.

We can’t change the past and the future isn’t here yet. What we have right now is the present. What we have now is a God who loves us and isn’t finished making His masterpiece. What we have now is an opportunity to honor Him and show others compassion and kindness that points them back to Jesus who died to save them too.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10 NLT