We are God’s poem

Ephesians 2:10 tells us “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

The word Paul uses for workmanship is the Greek word poiema. It is used only twice in the New Testament – here in Ephesians and in Romans 1:20. In the verse in Romans, Paul writes “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (ποιήμασιν or poiema), so that people are without excuse.”

It takes quite a few words in English to unpack the true meaning of poiema.

What Paul has is in mind is a work of extraordinary creativity. Something so thoughtfully constructed and beautifully made that it tells an extraordinary story, evokes strong emotions, and points people to Jesus.

Poiema is the word from which we get our word “poem”.

Which means – as God’s workmanship – we are God’s poiema. His poems.

We have been so thoughtfully constructed and beautifully made that we tell an extraordinary story, evoke strong emotions, and point people to Jesus.  

What an incredible honour to be God’s poems. His words expressed in a body, pointing the world to Jesus simply because we are alive.