Friday after Ash Wednesday

March 8th, 2019

Meditation
  • “Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” (Psalm 37:5-6, The Message)

    My mother-in-law is a woodworker.  After the death of her husband, someone encouraged her to take up a hobby.  She started attending a Senior’s center and signed up for woodworking.  It has been over 10 years since she began working with wood.  As of today, she is now teaching the woodworking class where she was once a student.  I marvel at the projects she completes.  She is really good.  Our home is full of pieces she has crafted.  I love listening to her describe the process of taking a piece of wood, cutting it, sanding it, putting lacquer or some other finisher on it and then sanding it again to make it smooth.  She goes into great detail describing the long process from start to finish.  The wood she begins with never looks like it did the first day she got it.  She transforms it into a useful item like a cutting board, a desk, a jewelry box or a hallway table.  A piece of wood in my mother-in-law’s hand is destined to never remain as it did in its past.

    And in the hands of God, our lives are destined to never be the same.  The bumps and bruises we received in the course of our life is not in the care of a loving God who will o whatever it takes to “smooth us” out.  He will break us, mold us, shape us and finish us up.  He presents us to himself, a work of art fashioned by his own hands.  And just like my mother-in-law, who burns her name on her work, God will place his stamp of approval on your life.  The past does not define you. God’s work on and in your life now defines you. 

Scripture(s)
  • Psalm 37:1-6

    Of David.

    Do not fret because of those who are evil
        or be envious of those who do wrong;
    for like the grass they will soon wither,
        like green plants they will soon die away.

    Trust in the Lord and do good;
        dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
    Take delight in the Lord,
        and he will give you the desires of your heart.

    Commit your way to the Lord;
        trust in him and he will do this:
    He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
        your vindication like the noonday sun.

Contributor

Dion Frasier

Preaching
Reynoldsburg Church of Christ

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