Chip Away at the Stone
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4, NIV)
It may have been Michelangelo; I can’t say for certain. But the great sculptor was once asked about how he knew which pieces to chisel away as he created his masterpieces. His answer? “I simply cut away those pieces of stone that don’t belong.”
There have been (and will continue to be) plenty of pieces of stone that don’t belong in my life. Prideful, selfish, fleshly ways that keep me from being the person God is calling me to be through His Son, Jesus.
What that means is God, the Divine Sculptor will be chipping away for what I hope will be many years to come. (The alternative is not appealing to me)
Cutting stony flesh from our lives is not pleasant, but it is vital if we want to become God’s masterpieces. Not one time have I enjoyed having my stony flesh cut by God’s hammer and chisel. But as I look back, I see what a difference it has made in my life.
After the cutting is done (temporarily), God blows away the dust, and I’m able to see what he was doing all along.
The Bible never says we have to like the cutting that takes place in our stony flesh; it does, however, tell us to rejoice in it. Rejoice because we trust what God is doing as he builds strength of character and spiritual maturity into our lives.
In Christ,
Dan