OUR DAILY BREAD : MAKING A MASTERPIECE

[cimi]

September 12
Wednesday


MAKING A
MASERPIECE

READ:
2 Corinthians 5:12-21
_______________________________

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 paint-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 silvers of color became an inmage 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
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~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~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Only God can transform a sin-stained soul
into a masterpiece of grace.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 5:12-21********

12 For we do not commend
ourselves again to you, but
give you opportunity to
boast on our behalf, that you
may have an answer for
those who boast in
appearance and not in heart.

13 For if we are beside
ourselves, it is for God; or if
we are of sound mind, it is
for you. 14 For the love of
Christ compels us, because
we judge thus: that if One
died for all, then all died;

15 and He died for all, that
those who live should live
no longer for themselves, but
for Him who died for them
and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on,
we regard no one according
to the flesh. Even though we
have known Christ according
to the flesh, yet now we
know Him thus no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold, all things have
become new. 18 Now all
things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ, and
has given us the ministry of
reconcilation, 19 that is, that
God was in Christ
reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their
trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of
reconciliation. 20 Now then,,
we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were
pleading through us: we
implore you on Christ's
behalf, be reconciled to God.

21 For He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin for us
that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In Ephesians 2:10, the word workmanship (poiema) means
"masterpiece." It differs from human "works" (ergon, 2:9).
Believers are God's workmanship because He Himself has made
them new in Christ Jesus. __HDF

Adapted from The Bible Knowledge Commentary

[Mackenaw]

What a sweet analogy. Awwwwwww, I enjoyed that.

Thanks again, Cimi, for taking the time to post these Our Daily Breads for our convenience and pleasure.

God bless you, sister!
Sister Mack

[susidivah]

I love that verse in 2 Corinthians, Cimi! It reminds me of Steven Curtis Chapman's album "All Things New" (more recent) and his song, on a different album called "Fingerprints of God"...

The lyrics go "You are a masterpiece that all creation quietly applauds and you are covered with the fingerprints of God"

I always try to make illustrations of how unique each and every one of us has been made and to strive to continue to be that way for His Glory and Honor and calling. It is so reassuring to know we are renewed through Him, the canvas wiped clean, if we only turn to Him and obey His Will and Word

GBU
Susi