So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 ESV
There is no one more creative than God. He created light, the heavens an earth, the water, and animals In all that He created, He made man and women in His image. Creator is the first role we see God in for His people. We are intricately made, He forms us in our mother’s womb. However, we are made in His image.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Made in His image, we are also called to be creative. God gave us minds to create things. He planned those things in advance for us to do. The wisdom and knowledge that He has provided to us, the skills and abilities, they are all part of His design. When we step out into what He has placed inside of us, we are stepping out in His creativity. That is why when we work, we are told to do it for the Lord.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”. Colossians 3:23 ESV
So often we feel like we have to separate the spiritual from the secular. We feel like if we are not ministering from a pulpit our creativity is not from God. Yet when God created the tabernacle and later the temple He made a point in giving clear instructions about how He empowered people for this task.
““Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.”” Exodus 35:10-19 ESV
God not only gave general instructions that people had been given the knowledge and skills, He also named specific people to carry out specific tasks. This tells me that God values creativity not just in the spiritual realm, but even in fine arts.
““See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.””
Exodus 31:2-11 ESV
““Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”” Exodus 36:1 ESV
These artists could have questioned their ability. They could have discounted their gifts and not stepped out; instead, they answered the call. They took their gifts and and abilities, their knowledge and skill and used it for God/s glory. That is really what God asks of each of us. He wants us to use our creativity to bring Him glory. He doesn’t expect anything of us that He has not equipped us to do.
Creativity has always been God’s design. It was one of the first characteristics we learned about God, He is a creator. We were made in His image, with the same creative ability. God had given each of us skills and abilities to use to bring Him glory. He has called each of us to complete our work until Him. We are creative because He designed us to be like Him. We have to step out for Him with our knowledge, skills, and abilities. He has equipped us for anything He asks us to step out and use for His glory.
This post is part of a 28 days series on Stepping Out inspired by the #Write28Days Blogging Challenge by Anita Ojeda.
Restoring Voice 