God's Handiwork

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

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

                And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25) (Yes, again.)

                We’re back to the individual/collective bit, and once again, we is both. You and I are God’s handiwork, but like blue and yellow, like two bricks. We each do a job. Together, we are God’s handiwork as well. We make green and part of the temple wall. This is one of those cases in which I must say that God works in mysterious ways, because I’m more of an individualist. I may be able to see how your are God’s handiwork. I can sometimes see how I am God’s handiwork, but it’s very rare that I see how you and I are His handiwork. That doesn’t mean it’s not true.

                As the additional verses above point out, sometimes our handiwork is strengthening, spurring on, or encouraging the other. Sometimes, one of us brings a skill or a piece of information that another lacks. In other words, our weaknesses are an opportunity for someone else to love and bless us, as long as they are genuine and not excessive. Sometimes, we spur one another on toward the truth by pointing out error; sometimes, it's by being there, or dropping off something that's needed, or helping out. And all of that is done in prayer, with prayer, and through prayer.