Devotionals

The Ugly Painting

by John Custer
09/11/20
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Christmas was just a few weeks away and I drew Betsy for the Christmas gift exchange.  After thinking hard about what to give her, I remembered her telling the following story.

Years before, she was with a youth group on a small boat headed to a distant island in the ocean.  They got lost and were nearly out of fuel.  It was very traumatic for her, and played a part in her becoming a missionary.

The next Sunday, after Vespers, I walked to the Chiang Mai Night Market and commissioned an artist to paint a picture of a boat lost at sea.  I gave him a rough sketch of what I wanted.

When I got the painting, I was disappointed.  It was exactly like the drawing I had given him, only larger: no waves, no extras, only what was on my sketch.  It was nothing like what I intended it to be.  With my limited Thai, he simply did not understand my request.  I framed and wrapped it anyway.

At the party I sheepishly gave Betsy my present.  She immediately recognized what it represented and started to cry.  (I wanted to cry too.)

Likewise, none of us are as God intended.  Christ, however, gave his life to restore us to what He intended us to be.  He set our value and presents us to the Father as He originally intended us to be.

I Corinthians 1:8 says, “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Get that, “blameless!”

Jesus, I admit that I fall short of what you designed me to be.  Thank you for redeeming me and ultimately presenting me to your Father as He intended me to be.

Sharing Christ is my purpose and passion.

NIV