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Romans 8:38
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. |
This weekend I spent some time thinking about the true depths of His unfailing love (Ephesians 3:17-19). He loves me exactly for who I am! There is nothing I can do or not do that will make Him love me any more than He already does. He could have created me with any of the qualities or characteristics that He wanted.
The arts and crafts store comes to mind. If you have ever been inside one and looked in the painting section, you would find more colors, canvases, and paint choices than you could possibly imagine! As many choices as there are in the store, God has infinitely more! He undoubtedly used the exact colors He wanted to paint you and I (Psalm 139:13). Each stroke of the brush wasn’t by accident. It is essential to the total painting. It is easy to look at the finished painting and see beauty. However, in the middle of the process the artist's work often appears like random strokes of paint.
It is only through the course of countless strokes of life’s details that the Master reveals His completed work. God loves us just as we are (Romans 5:8). The strokes of color that might seem so dull or perhaps out of place are exactly where they should be. We just have to be willing to let Him keep adding the strokes of color!
One of the cool things about painting is that unlike drawing, there isn’t an eraser. With painting, the artist paints over it and the eyes that see it after the process is complete never know it was there. Perhaps this is what was meant by all things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Our debts are paid, our sin is covered, and our life has purpose when we surrender our canvas to the Master's Hands.
Father,
Thank You for loving us and accepting us just as we are. Help us not to get caught up in the single strokes of the past but instead take heart in knowing that we are a work in progress. We know that every stroke of life plays a part in who you want us to be. Thank you for being forever faithful and finishing the work you started in each of us! In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen
The arts and crafts store comes to mind. If you have ever been inside one and looked in the painting section, you would find more colors, canvases, and paint choices than you could possibly imagine! As many choices as there are in the store, God has infinitely more! He undoubtedly used the exact colors He wanted to paint you and I (Psalm 139:13). Each stroke of the brush wasn’t by accident. It is essential to the total painting. It is easy to look at the finished painting and see beauty. However, in the middle of the process the artist's work often appears like random strokes of paint.
It is only through the course of countless strokes of life’s details that the Master reveals His completed work. God loves us just as we are (Romans 5:8). The strokes of color that might seem so dull or perhaps out of place are exactly where they should be. We just have to be willing to let Him keep adding the strokes of color!
One of the cool things about painting is that unlike drawing, there isn’t an eraser. With painting, the artist paints over it and the eyes that see it after the process is complete never know it was there. Perhaps this is what was meant by all things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Our debts are paid, our sin is covered, and our life has purpose when we surrender our canvas to the Master's Hands.
Father,
Thank You for loving us and accepting us just as we are. Help us not to get caught up in the single strokes of the past but instead take heart in knowing that we are a work in progress. We know that every stroke of life plays a part in who you want us to be. Thank you for being forever faithful and finishing the work you started in each of us! In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen