Making a masterpiece

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17

One of my earliest memories of my dad is that he loved doing paint-by-number pictures. The canvas was large, but the numbered segments where a predetermined color would go were very small. Dad would sit in his chair in our basement for hours, working meticulously with his painting in front of him and a cup of coffee at his side.

As a boy, I would sit on the basement stairs and watch with fascination. My interest did not stem from a misguided thought that doing painting-by-number work made my dad a great artist. Rather, I was amazed at how patiently he would work on each painting. Finally, the thousands of slivers of color became an image that Dad considered well worth the effort.

As I think of my dad’s patience in bringing a painting to life, my heart is directed to our heavenly Father. He looks on us and sees the voids and imperfections in our lives, yet lovingly and patiently does His work in us to make us His masterpiece — a masterpiece that “conform[s] to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).

What a joy it is to have such a God, who makes us new (2 Cor. 5:17) and never tires of investing His energy and effort into our lives!     — Bill Crowder

God sees in us a masterpiece

That one day will be done;

His Spirit works through all our life

To make us like His Son. — Sper

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:12-21

Only God can transform a sin-stained soul into a masterpiece of grace.

The Bible in one year:

• Proverbs 13-15

• 2 Corinthians 5