In 1501, a 26 year old named Michelangelo was commissioned to create the statue of David. The project had been attempted by two other artists who hadn’t completed the work. When the 18 foot tall slab of marble arrived, Michelangelo began chipping away large chunks of the stone. He then began taking away smaller pieces. Finally he began to sand and refine certain parts of it until it was completed. Three years later, what is now one of the most famous statues in the world, was completed. In 1504 the statue of David was placed in a chapel in Florence. There’s a story that when the pope saw the statue, he marveled at iPad asked Michelangelo what the secret to his genius was. Michelangelo replied, “It’s simple. I just remove everything that isn’t David.”
We read about this statue’s namesake in the books of Samuel. He was called to be king while he was just a teen. However, he wasn’t quite ready to be king. This young man would face giants, play his harp for a king who was jealous of him, be ran out of his home country, forced to live in caves, be joined by hundreds of society’s rejects and outlaws, and more for fourteen years. He had multiple opportunities to kill the current king and take his promised place as leader of the country, but waited on God. He understood God was chipping away everything that wasn’t David. He was being shaped and refined before he could be placed where God planned. He understood the artist knows better than the art when it’s ready. Until then, he submitted to God’s shaping and processes.
Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (NLT). Don’t fret if God is taking His time working on your life and moving you into place. He’s simply taking away everything that isn’t really you as He’s refining your life. We each have a need to recognize and understand that He is the artist and we are the work of His hand. He will be faithful to complete what He began. You are His masterpiece created for the works He created you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Like a master artisan, He is working diligently in your life at His pace not yours. Today, make a point to tell Him you submit to His design and timing. Let Him continue the work of shaping you until He’s ready by submitting to His shaping process.
Photo by Earl Wilcox on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 