You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24
As marble chippings flew from the large stone block on the floor of his studio, Michelangelo once reflected, “While the marble wastes, the image grows.” Wow. It’s an insightful lesson in sculpting stone, and it’s also the way God sculpts our character. There must be a wasting of self, a continuous chipping away of the flesh, a mortifying of the old sin nature. There is simply no other way which things that are true, honorable, pure and lovely can be shaped within you. It is God’s work in us, but it is also our work, for 1 John 3 tells us that, “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself.” The only way it happens is if we, again, starve the flesh and feed the spirit. It’s the only way to become like Christ, so let the marble waste away while the image grows. Christ in you is worth it!
Every day of the week, the Joni and Friends staff prays for our ministry, staff, volunteers, and ministry partners. We invite you to join us in prayer for our ministry activities and outreaches. Thank you for bringing our requests before the Lord.
