08/22/2026 – “The Masterwork”
“The teacher took me around the back of the common hall where there was a blank canvas on a wooden easel and, to its right, a second wooden easel on which rested a beautiful and intricate painting of a landscape.
“Your assignment,” he said, “is to copy this painting.” “But I don’t know how to paint.” “That’s the challenge,” he replied, “I’ll be back in a few hours.” For the rest of the afternoon I tried my best to reproduce what I saw on the canvas. But for all my efforts, the result looked like something a preschooler would have done. When the teacher returned, there was a long silence as we both stared at my work. “You won’t forget this lesson,” he said. “You were trying to reproduce the work of a master. Most of those in the kingdom do the same thing.” “Copy paintings?” “Try to reproduce the righteousness of God. They know what’s right and good and holy. They know what a godly life looks like. And they try to live it. The goal is worthy. But the way they go about achieving that goal is wrong. They’re doing what you just did, trying by their own abilities to reproduce the work of the Master. And to do that is to compete with God. And if you could do that, you wouldn’t need God. Only God can do the work of God. And a holy life is the work of God.” “Then how can we do it,” I asked, “if God is the only one who can?” “Then that’s the key. God must do it. And you must let Him. Imagine if, instead of trying to copy this painting, you were given the artist’s heart and mind, his skills, and his spirit. Then it wouldn’t be a struggle, nor would it be a copy. It would be as if the master was painting through you. Therein lies the key. Don’t compete with God by trying to copy His works. But learn the secret of letting God work his works of God. If you live by the Spirit of God, you fulfill the will of God. Move in His moving. Love in His loving. Live in His living, and be in His being. And for that painting you did…” “It’s a mess,” I said. “And I think I’ll keep it… as a reminder.” “Live by the Spirit of the Master,” said the teacher, “and that which you do will be a masterpiece.” The Mission: Today, instead of focusing on the works of God, see to live in the heart and Spirit of God – and you will accomplish the works of God.” Ezekiel 36:27; Galatians 5: 16, 22-25; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:21 The Poem of God
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Soli Deo Gloria!
“I say then, “walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5: 16, 22-25
https://www.gotquestions.org/be-holy-for-I-am-holy.html
“To be holy” is a call to be separate from the world through sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our pathway: Prayer and Study of His Word. It is the acceptance of His power to transform us.
Matthew 7:7–8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” It also says, “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”