By Robin Wiley
Scripture
Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Have you ever wondered how artists can turn a block of wood into a carving of an animal? Or a lump of stone into a person’s face? Artists have a word for this: “hyper-seeing”. When they look at a block of wood, rather than seeing the block, they can see the image they want to create from it.
I refer to my husband Scott as an artist when it comes to his woodworking creations. Since his retirement from teaching in 2019, what started off as being a hobby has turned into a passion for him with woodworking. The left side of our garage, filled with his numerous pieces of equipment, scraps of wood of all sizes and sawdust, are a testament to how much he loves it! He only makes things for family and it truly is a labor of love for him each time he takes on a new project. When the mesquite tree in our backyard broke off a large branch after a storm last year, he saved the wood because he envisioned all sorts of possibilities for its use. He could “see” it’s potential.
Hyper-seeing is also a good description of what our all-seeing God does. He sees all that we are – and more. He sees what we will be when He has finished His work in us, when we stand before Him at the end of our lives, blameless and without fault. The God who started this great work in us will keep going until He finished it on the day Jesus Christ comes back (see Philippians 1:6). Bit by bit, He is chipping away at us each day to make us look even more like His Son.
God’s work in us can’t be stopped. Whether we’re enjoying life or feeling low, God is at work. Whether we’re looking forward to today or wishing it would pass quickly (like what’s going on with the COVID-19 stuff!), God is going to use everything we go through to keep shaping us.
Reflection:
In what ways do you look more like Jesus today than you did last year? Or even yesterday?
What is God “chipping away” in your life right now to make you more like Jesus?
Prayer:
Father God, you knew each of us before we were made or formed in our mother’s womb, and you know what each of us are capable of becoming. Shape us to become more like your Son, Jesus. Give us His humility, grace and forgiveness to be the salt and light in this dark world. Thank you for loving us so much to keep molding our hearts and lives to be yours! We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen!