by Andrew Consiglio, leader and director of Youth Fellowship
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
On my recent visit to Florence recently, I went to the Galleria della Accademia to see the famous Four Prisoners of Michaleangelo. I was reminded of this story.
Out for a walk with his friend in a garden in Florence, Michelangelo stumbled across a block of marble lying on the ground, covered in soil and weeds. He suddenly stopped as if recognising someone he knew. Fixing his gaze on the marble slab, he turned to his friends telling them: There is someone imprisoned in that marble rock and I want to free him. With chisel in hand, the famous artist patiently chipped off the ‘extra’ marble and carved out a beautiful statue.
The Lord does the same with us. His grace works in us and through us. At times, it may even be painful, but in the hands of our loving Father, we are assured that the end result will be amazing and that
‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’
Phil 1:6