I once had a co-worker who seemed to be skilled at everything he put his hand to. He had a brilliant mind that had the ability to view things mechanically, systemically, and creatively.

This allowed him to create an electric furnace which accommodated his newly found interest in glass blowing. In doing so he achieved something that, according to the glass blowing community, could not be done.

What's more is that, although his glass blowing skills were still developing, his pieces were both beautiful and complex--especially to someone like me who can’t even manage to color within the lines.

All that to say...

Although a novice, he was a natural, and he began taking his work to local showings and fairs.

As I recall, his pieces didn’t sell nearly as well as they should have. However, when he raised his prices (at the suggestion of his artistic peers) he sold more pieces.

The personal value he assigned to his work was reflected in the price he placed on the tag.

That is, the monetary value he placed on each piece reflected the value he attributed to himself as an artist, not just the perceived quality of his work.

People who value art are willing to pay a high price for it because they know they aren't just paying for a pretty decoration to display in their home, they are paying for an extension of the artist and how they perceive the world.

They collect art because they enjoy owning a physical expression of the artist's inner world. They realize that it is a product of vulnerability, time, and possibly pain to the artist and they value it for the gift that it is.

The act of creating anything comes with great vulnerability because art often comes from a very personal place. It is a risk for an artist to put a part of themselves out in the world to see if anyone will value it in the way that they do.

We know from Scripture that God is also an artist.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) says,

"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."

Do you believe that you are God’s masterpiece?

When God looks at us he sees His greatest creation. He values us the way an artist values their magnum opus. In fact, we were the joy set before Christ that helped him endure the cross.

Put another way:

God valued us enough to die for us.

Usually we sell ourselves short, and when we do, the world does not get a clear picture of the artist who created us.

We are not perfect, but we were made perfect in Christ.

Have you ever considered that our perceived flaws or our insecurities of being different may be how God intended us to reflect his image to those around us?

You are valuable just as you are because you were made in His image.

All the quirks, personality traits, talents, and idiosyncrasies that make you who you are--those are God's brushstrokes. He placed them there with intention knowing that you would give immense value to the world just by existing in it.

He created you knowing that you would be a reflection of His glory.

If you struggle to know your truth worth, you may not be living into God's vision for your life because you have not valued yourself.

Perhaps you need to increase your personal value as an act of humility today.

Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself--it's merely thinking of yourself less.

When you stop worrying about how others may perceive you, it gives you permission to be who you are and do what only you can do based on the artist's intention when he created you.

No one else is like you, and there will never be another you. You are a one of a kind, living and breathing masterpiece created by God himself.

May you rest in that truth this week, and may it seep into every aspect of your life.