God the Tailor

“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)

This is an amazing verse! Paul begins by stating, you “are His workmanship.” Reminds me of something you could pick up on the clearance rack at Sears – workmanship. Or, was that Craftsman? Either way, it’s not exactly a word we typically use everyday. Isn’t it strange how often we read words like this in Scripture, not really sure what they mean or why it was used, yet very rarely do we stop and wonder what it is and why the author specifically chose to use that particular expression?

The Greek word for "workmanship" is poiema. We actually get our word “poem” from this word. A poem is something that is thoughtfully, intentionally and intimately crafted deep within the heart of the poet. Often underneath the surface of the very words themselves are hidden many meanings, sayings, concepts waiting to be unearthened and understood by the hearer/reader. A casual hearer/reader will never grasp the height nor depth of what was meant by the poet as they penned this poem. It’s full of emotion, passion and experience.

Likewise, this verse describes God as the Divine Poet who has reached deep down within and began to craft a life. A life, that like a poem was meant to be sung, read and lived. God intended each person to be a life full of meaning, purpose and intimate origin.

This word “poiema” was a word that conveyed “weaving of a fabric into a garment.” It was the word picture of someone going to a tailor or seamstress to have a garment custom crafted. Before the tailor asked for colors, designs, or anything else, they would measure each dimension. After the dimensions were gathered, they would then begin designing the pattern, cutting the pattern, and so forth.

Once completed, this tailor made garment would fit with great comfort. It would fit one person and only one person well. It was not some generic “S,M,L,XL” or a cheap “one-size-fits-all,” rather it had been measured, designed, and crafted to fit one person perfectly based on their unique measurements.

Likewise, Paul says that God has “measured us up in advance.” He has uniquely and intimately crafted us as a poem. He has made a “coat” or “garment” that is specifically designed to fit us like no other. This “coat” is the life He has designed us to live from the beginning of creation. It’s our purpose. It’s our calling….

“We are His poem, crafted in the heart of Christ Jesus,
to live a vibrant expression of His purpose on the Earth,
that will serve to establish His kingdom.
It is imperative that we wear the coat God has tailored for us.
It is of utmost necessity that we resound and resonate as the poem we were written to be. We are able to do this, we should do this,
because this is who we really are…”
(Ephesians 2:10 JET)