God is like an artist and our lives are the canvas upon which He paints. At times God uses a large brush quickly coving the canvas with paint and at others God is using a small brush to fill in the detail. And then there are the many colors on the palette. We all enjoy the days when the Divine Artist chooses the bright and cheerful colors, but then comes the days when God dips His brush into the shades of grey.
Yet regardless of the brush used or the colors used the Divine Artist always has in mind what He wants the painting of our lives to become when it is finished. In those moments when we don’t understand God’s choice of a brush or color, we need to trust the Master who can see the big picture.
In the pages of scripture we are able to stand back and admire the Divine Artist’s finished works. When we see the big picture in scripture, it can help us make sense of things we don’t understand in our lives from day to day.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do; they'll complete the assignment I gave them. So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life. . . No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines—Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God."
Isaiah 55:10-13 (MsgB)
What is God saying? Well I think it’s fair to put it this way, “I’m the artist and I know what I’m doing, so trust me.”
When you look at Isaiah’s big picture you see God’s judgment with the consequences of sin intermixed with God’s promise of a redeemer who will save His people. Isaiah saw both God’s wrath and His salvation. Yet how easy it is for us to focus on one or the other and miss how they are connected to each other in the big picture.
As we live from day to day we may not see the big picture either. We see weeds, but God sees a mighty forest. God knows what He is doing. Trust Him to complete the masterpiece of your life.
1 comment:
Pastor Greg, another great devotional! I try not to look for the weeds, I now look at things or try to at least through God's eyes. I have made it my mission to bring a smile or nice thought to every person that walks into the bank . We meet so many hurting and lost souls, but, they are all God's children, even the grumpy, the rich, the poor, the drunkerds, etc, the addicts etc. Who knows what will happen or whom we will meet tomorrow. There are so many tired people that need the rest that only Jesus can supply. No matter how much we can be hurt, we must still love them. I have had to do much weeding in my garden. We must not judge , for we will be judged with the same scale. I don't know maybe I have it all wrong. Life is difficult how can we be anything but kind.
--Jodi
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