Creative Purposes

(Recommended Reading:  Exodus 35)

It was three years ago this weekend that I publicly announced I would be writing a blog.  It is hard for me to believe that it has been that long!  But it has been a real blessing to me personally and my hope is that it has maybe been at least a small blessing to some of you that have read my ramblings.  As I state in my “introduction” on my website “I’m not a Bible scholar, nor was I an English major; but, hopefully you can still enjoy my writing with any imperfections you see.”  

Each day I have a time for prayer, then I read my daily devotional and follow that with my daily Bible reading.  Some days I follow that routine with no big revelations.  But other days I will read something that jumps out at me and it seems to say that there is a need to study about and discuss that topic in my blog, then follows my thoughts for an article to write. 

Knowing that this anniversary weekend was approaching I had been thinking about what I would say in my blog.  Then, this past Thursday, I read my devotional and it sparked one of those thoughts in me.  The Bible reference for that day was Exodus 31:2-3.  The Lord was speaking to Moses:  “He said, ‘I have chosen Bezalel…from the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I have filled Bezalel with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skill.’”   (NIRV)

Then this is a portion of what Chris Tiegreen, the writer of my devotional book, says:  “God is creative.  You’ve probably noticed that in the things He has created.  The first people mentioned in the Bible as being filled with His Spirit are two artisans, Bezalel and Oholiab…As children of a creative God, we can be filled with His Spirit for creative purposes too.  Inspired works of art can be vehicles of His Presence, messengers of the Kingdom and the King.

“Create with whatever creativity God has put within you.  Your expression makes you like Him – an Artist whose heart overflows into the works of His hands.  The world needs inspired creativity.  And His Presence inspires greater works than the world can conceive.” [Emphasis mine] 

I am admittedly not a person that can take an easel and a palette of paints and create a painting that might inspire someone.  I am not a person that is crafty, creating cute/pretty things that will please the eye.  I am not a musician that can write or sing a beautiful song that you will enjoy hearing.  I am not an artisan with wood, metals, etc.  I am not a particularly good cook. However, over the years I have done a fair job of putting thoughts and ideas down on paper – sometimes verbally presenting them publicly and feeling good about what I have written and said.    

Many years ago I had done some writing, but my interest had faded over time.  I took a class at my church in 2018 and as a result found my interest for writing renewed.  Because the goal of the class was to find a “Passion Project” I had to decide what I was going to do about it.  I had heard about blogging but was not sure I had a clear understanding of it or how to begin such a project.  So I educated myself on it and found a site where I could set up my own webpage to do my thing.  The result was Karran’s Korner where I introduce a new article each week.       

I am not anyone special, other than I am a child of God.  That means that His Holy Spirit dwells in me.   I believe this means that when I feel inspired to write down some thought that it could be something that will speak to the heart of someone that reads it.  Just as I do not have inspiration hit me every single day when I study, not everyone will read what I write and find themselves uplifted every week.  But quiet possibly, there may be someone, somewhere that will read my words and feel better about themselves or their situation.     

If you are a believer the Holy Spirit also dwells within you; and, you have some kind of creativity that you should be using to help and inspire others.  It is so very easy to push things aside and make all kinds of excuses to not do what we know we should be doing.  (Our enemy loves it when we neglect to do what we should do, especially if it will bring any kind of glory to our God.)  

Our world is in a real mess these days and there are so many fearful, wounded, depressed people that are desperate for encouragement.  They yearn to hear, see, experience things that will help to build them up so that they can look life in the face and move forward.  What if the talents and abilities you have could be just what they need to make a real difference in their life?  “We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10 (NIRV) 

So I challenge you – if you are not sure what your talent is, make a decision today that you will ask God to prompt you about what creativity lies within you that can be used to lift others.  Then do not hesitate any longer.  Move forward with it and you will not only bless others but will find yourself blessed as well.  There is no doubt that there are some Creative Purposes in you.   

But remember – whatever talent you have, it should always be used as a way to honor God and bless others, not for your own aggrandizement.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”  Colossians 3:23 (GNT)  

As Mr. Tiegreen said:  “The world needs inspired creativity”  and, you should “Create with whatever creativity God has put within you.”

Written by Karran Martin

October 30, 2021