Doctrine of Workmanship

As our pastor preaches through Galatians, our entire church is reading through Martin Luther’s preface to Galatians (the abridgement and paraphrase by Tim Keller–we’re not reading it in German or anything 🙂 ).

This week we have been encouraged and refreshed by “The Doctrine of Workmanship” (applying Galatians 1.10 – 2.10).

I feel like retyping the entire excerpt! But instead, I’ll just give you a few highlights:

“The word workmanship is very important; it is the Greek word poema–from which we get our word, “poem.” It means that every believer is essentially a work of art–God’s art!

Consider how artists work … sometimes they do very little, only a stroke here or there. Other times they make massive changes. But always they seek to bring the raw material into line with an artistic vision. Thus Paul is telling us that God labors over all believers throughout our entire lives, intervening and guiding and shaping us to bring us into line with a vision he has for us …

Paul uses this “doctrine of workmanship” like a pair of spectacles through which to view his entire life.”

How grateful I am for God’s work in my life! Protecting me; waking me up to things I had previously doubted and denied; showing me the weaknesses and flaws in myself; showing me my value to Him.

Grace grace grace! I truly am a grateful grace junkie.

Happy Monday to you!

Yours,
Tara B.