Bible Reading: Philippians 2:13-16

“Whenever I get home from school, all I want is food that’s cool,” chanted Marina, making up the rhyme as she opened the freezer and took out an ice cream bar. She grinned at her brother Archer.

Archer rolled his eyes and made up a rhyme of his own. “I think your rhyme is kind of sad–your poetry is really bad.”

Marina laughed and went outside to where her mother was working in the garden. “Hello, Mother with a thumb that’s green. You have the best vegetables I’ve seen.”

Mom smiled. “Still working on that poem you need for school?”

“I’m trying, but all I can think of are silly things,” said Marina.

When Dad arrived home, Marina greeted him with another one of her rhymes. “Dad, your work day is finally done. Now it’s time to have some fun!”

“Oh, Marina, I think your poems are getting worse,” said Archer. “How about this? Mom, that chicken pasta looks so yummy. I want to put it in my tummy!”

Dad laughed and joined in. “My family’s always such a delight. It’s a joy to be with them each night.” As he sat down at the table, he said, “Actually, I know of a very special poem. It’s mentioned in the Bible–in Ephesians 2:10.”

“That was our verse at church last week!” exclaimed Marina. “It says, ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.’ But that doesn’t rhyme like a poem, and it doesn’t say anything about a poem.”

“The word handiwork comes from the Greek word poiema–that’s the word we get our English word poem from,” Dad explained. “So to say we are God’s handiwork is like saying we are His poem.”

“I like that,” said Marina with a grin.

Dad smiled. “And just like a poem can bring joy to people through its words, you can bring joy to people through your good works–the good things you do for others that show them the love of Jesus. God created us to do these things and gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us in doing them. We are His poems that tell the story of the great things He has done for us.”

Marina’s eyes lit up. “God is our Creator, and He made us for something greater!”

– Lyndel F. Walker

How About You?
Do you have a favorite poem? If you’re a Christian, remember that you are God’s poem, created to love Him and bless others. God created you with unique gifts and passions, and He gave you the Holy Spirit to help you do the good things He calls you to do. When you love and help other people, you’re pointing them toward your Author–Jesus Christ.

Today’s Key Verse:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV) (Ephesians 2:10)

Today’s Key Thought:
Christians are God’s poems