The Beauty of God: A Six-Day Series of Reflections to Invite Wonder Prøve

[IMAGE CONTENT] Beauty in Co-Creation Symphonies and sourdough, oil paintings and iambic pentameter—every act of humanity’s creativity points back to a creative God. Immediately after God reveals Himself as Artist, He extends to humanity the invitation to make. In the Garden of Eden, we see God form the pinnacle of His creation from dust, breathing life and bestowing a charge to keep and fill the earth (Gen. 2:4–23). Humanity, thus, receives the gift and responsibility of dominion. From naming animals to inventing iPhones, God’s call to co-create illuminates our activities. Through our making, we manifest the image of God. Both the capacity to create art and created art itself reveals God in unique ways. As image-bearers, our innate inclination to fill canvases, cultivate gardens, and construct cities speaks to God’s nature. We see His imagination and genius on display as we pattern His actions, bringing order from chaos and infusing raw materials with purpose. Scripture provides a glimpse of artists being filled through the Spirit with creative insight and skill that God may be glorified and His set-apartness manifested. Art is not superfluous or wasteful. By curating beauty, we participate in the mission of God as He pursues the world in love. As a result of co-creation, mirrors of beauty line the hallways of daily living. Dinner parties, art museums, and unassuming walks around the neighborhood become feasts to meet with God. These encounters stir our senses and provoke a curious wonder that opens us up to commune with God in delight and reverence. An Invitation God does not exclusively call those with training in fine arts to create. Every person is God’s workmanship and every person has been created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10). The invitation to infuse the world with beauty is all-encompassing. Paintbrushes exist in the form of spreadsheets, toolboxes, washing machines, and lesson plans. What does your context for bringing order to chaos look like? Take a moment to reflect on how the Lord has specifically wired you for good works. Praise God for the privilege of bearing His image and ask Him into your unique realm of making.