You Are God’s Masterpiece

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Good Morning!
When we think of renewing our minds, this is not something that is instantaneous. I once read an analogy that talks about how Michelangelo sculpted, it wasn’t about forming a block of marble, but about finding the work of art hidden beneath by removal of parts. Sometimes he worked at the task of removing chunks of marble with a heavy mallet and a hard blow and a broad chisel, removing large masses. Other times with fine tools and delicate touches, he removed a grain or two of powdered dust from the sparkling block. He eventually finished with the perfect sculpture finding that work of art that was hidden beneath the surface.
Source: MacLaren’s Commentary.

In the same way, God uses His word and direction of the Holy Spirit to purge things from our lives that are not of Him. He gives us wisdom and guidance to stay away from people or activities that will drag us down and into a wrong pathway for our lives. Sometimes it is a large, obvious “chunk of marble” that He removes. Other times, it is a subtle small thing that just distracts us from becoming who God wants us to be and following His plan for our lives. Something as small as being 1 degree off on a set course will put you miles off of your destination as you travel. So be mindful of those “little foxes that spoil the grapevine” in your life.

Song of Songs 2:15 TLB
[15] “The little foxes are ruining the vineyards. Catch them, for the grapes are all in blossom.

As His sons and daughters, let’s all walk daily with our Lord and Savior, renewing our mind each day so that we can become God’s masterpiece. Every step we take, let’s be thoughtful and intentional to ask ourselves, “what would Jesus do?” We have the ability to love one another with the love of Christ. We have the ability to stand against the fiery darts of the devil with God’s armor. We have the Word of God to guide us and show us the path to the things that he planned for us long ago. This scripture sums it up well…

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
[8] God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad

Ephesians 4:17-19,21-24 NKJV
[17] This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles [unbelievers] walk, in the futility of their mind, [18] having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; [19] who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. [21] if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: [22] that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, [23] and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, [24] and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:8-11 NLT
[8] But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. [9] Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. [10] Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. [11] In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.