I
Wish
I Were Present With You Now
You know that it was because of a
physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my
condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me
as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out
your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling
you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to
exclude you, so that you may make much of them. It is good to be made much of
for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I
am present with you. My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of
childbirth until Christ is formed in you, I wish I were present with you now
and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about
you.
Galatians 4:13-20
An artist was once falsely accused of a
crime and thrown into prison. He was allowed to take his brushes and paints
with him, but he couldn't have any canvas on which to paint. A guard gave him a
dirty old handkerchief. The artist painted his concept of what the face of
Jesus would look like. When the guard saw the image, his heart was moved, and
tears welled up in his eyes. The painting later became famous.
If one man could take an old, soiled rag,
and make it glow with such loveliness that a thoughtless, indifferent prison
guard was moved to tears by it, just think what the Master Artist could do with
our lives if we would let Him have His way with us.
In our sinfulness we are just old rags,
devoid of any spiritual beauty. Yet the power of God's Holy Spirit can change
us into a masterpiece of divine grace.
The best
commentary on the Bible
is a Christ-filled
life.
Our
Daily Bread -