I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.
Isaiah 65:1
Michelangelo’s masterpiece David is recognized as one of the finest Renaissance marble sculptures. Yet it was sculpted from a flawed marble slab that had originally been selected for another project and then rejected, and had endured twenty-five years of exposure to the elements before Michelangelo began work on it. The skilled hands of the artist took that which was flawed, rejected by man, and weather-worn, and created one of the most beautiful works of art the world has seen.
God’s power is demonstrated in that He does the same with lives. We are flawed. We each have this sinful nature that tends to do what is wrong. We are rejected. Haven’t we each felt the sting of someone’s rejection, of someone judging us, of someone saying we are not good enough, of someone saying that we will never change or amount to anything? We are weather-worn as well, hardened ourselves by the constant exposure to life in an imperfect world.
God has chosen us in Christ, and He has done so before we have chosen Him. We are changed and transformed not by our determination to be and act good, but by knowing God personally. He reveals not only His will but His face. He reveals Himself, and it is that revelation that transforms and brings new life and a new direction. He is the Master-sculpture who not only creates beauty out of human flaws, but re-creates Himself in our lives.
We are each flawed, rejected, and weather-worn, and the grace of God in Christ tells us the good news that in spite of this, we are also deeply loved by God, accepted in Christ by Him, and we have now become projects of His grace as His Spirit changes our hearts. As we return and are reconciled to Him we find that He gives us new chances, new opportunities, and as we follow Him we find hope restored and a new excitement about the future. Our daily task is very simple, and we should not get caught up too much in the confusing details – we are to know God through Christ, and let that personal knowledge of Him shape our daily destinies.
Prayer:
Lord, today let our knowledge of You increase, and show us how we may share You with those around us. May others see Jesus in us. Amen.