From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

The sermon on July 28 by one of our associate pastors, Ted Marshall, really got me to thinking. As part of the sermon, Ted played a “Skit Guys” video that showed God “chiseling” away at a man who was reluctant to endure the pain of God’s sculpting tools. Why is it, then, if we really believe that God is the potter and we are the clay, that we are we so hesitant to let God form us and shape us?

Ted went on to reaffirm to us that we are “God’s masterpiece”. Wow—God knows we were born broken, deformed, so to speak, because of Adam’s sin and that is why He diligently sets about to “correct” the defects. But what do we do when He starts hacking away at the junk…that’s right…we pitch a fit!

In order to have God make you into His originally intended masterpiece, you first have to invite Him to be your head artist. Then let Him choose the color, the canvas and the character He chooses to fashion. You are His chosen one, let Him rid you of your deformed hindrances and let Him mold you and shape you into His divinely inspired and unique work of art. In that way, you will be pleasing not only to Him but to all those around you.

A life in Christ is not a chopping block; it is the studio of the Master Artist in which He is transforming you into His beautiful, originally planned masterpiece. That’s a pretty good deal…mess up to masterpiece…I think I’ll take it. What say you? Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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