Soiled-rag masterpiece

My little children, . . . I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. — Galatians 4:19

An artist was once falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison. Although allowed to take his brushes and paints with him, he had no way of obtaining a canvas.

One day in desperation he asked a guard for something upon which he might paint. Indifferently, the man picked up a dirty old handkerchief and tossed it to him, saying, "There, see what you can do with that soiled rag!"

The artist, being a Christian, painted on it his concept of the face of Jesus. Having labored long and diligently on the painting, he thought he would show it first of all to the man who had given him the dirty piece of cloth for a canvas. When the guard looked at the beautiful image, his heart was moved, and tears welled up on 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 "soiled rags," devoid of spiritual beauty. Yet the power of God’s Holy Spirit can still change us into a masterpiece of divine grace! — Henry Bosch

I am the Lord’s — yet, teach me all it meaneth,

All it involves of love and loyalty,

Of holy service, full and glad surrender,

And unreserved obedience unto Thee! — Bennett

READ: Galatians 4:13-20

The best commentary on the Bible is a Christ-filled life.

The Bible in one year:

• 2 Samuel 19-20

• Luke 18:1-23