For five years, I had the honor and privilege of teaching third graders at a Christian school in Virginia. One of the many highlights was reading Charlotte’s Web with those sweet students. We laughed and cried over the book about animals on a farm as we acted out the pages with such drama and passion that only third graders can exhibit. That book is rich with themes of love and friendship, but one phrase from the book has been in my thoughts often lately.
Magnum Opus
I was reminded of this Latin phrase recently and have not been able to stop thinking about it from a different perspective other than a spider creating her egg sac. Wilbur stopped to observe the beautiful masterpiece his friend had created in the corner of the barn. Charlotte spoke of her egg sac being her greatest work as a spider. It was brimming with life and the life it held would surpass her own. It was her legacy. Her magnum opus.
You too are a special creation.
God created you in your mother’s womb in His image. Ponder on that for a moment.
He knows you. He loves you. He created you with a unique purpose. He wants to be in relationship with you.
The culture does not value life nor the idea that life is created by God, and this destructive devaluing of life affects our thoughts about ourselves as well as our actions as individuals and as a society. We are inundated with the idea that we are not a good work created in the image of God, but rather that we are just here by accident with no real significance or purpose.
Well, change your mindset, Sister! You are a divinely designed image bearer of the Creator of the Universe.
The Grand Canyon is NOT His magnum opus. The beautiful river down from my house teaming with vegetation and wildlife is NOT His magnum opus. The crystal blue water of the Caribbean is NOT His magnum opus. The rolling hills of Ireland and the Northern Lights are NOT His magnum opus. Humanity is His special creation.
Psalm 139 tells us that we are to praise the Lord because we have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Oh if only this truth ran on the bottom of the newsfeed on the cable networks! Imagine what would happen if this was taught to our little ones and repeated daily. The ripple effect would be far reaching. We are called to think not worldly thoughts and be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
Dear Sister, transform your mind today and fill it with Truth from our Father. You were created for a purpose which far surpasses feeling negative, inadequate, fearful, and anxious. Turn off the negative newsfeed in your mind and all around you. You were created to glorify the Creator. Start today by intentionally stopping and realizing who you are in Him and changing your mindset from one established by our culture to one established by The King.
Rebecca
