Daily Devotional: Tuesday, March 30

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Failing Forward

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Hereby Hillsong United; Hosannaby Paul Baloche; Cannons by Phil Wickham; Lead Me to the Crossby Hillsong United.

Read: Philemon 1:8-20; Acts 9: 26-28

Bible Challenge: Luke 9

Think: One of the lies the enemy of our soul likes to whisper to us is that our flaws and failures make us completely unacceptable to God. As Pastor Ben talked about failure, he told us what God truly desires for us is to submit those places in our lives to Him. It's in the Master's hands we can see Him transform and mold us and make us more and more like Jesus! It reminds me a bit of a story that you may have heard but I'll share again because it is so appropriate.

For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed marble lay in the courtyard of a cathedral in Florence, Italy. In the early 1500s a young sculptor was asked to do something with it. He measured the block and noted its imperfections. In his mind, he envisioned a young shepherd boy.

For three years he chiseled and shaped the marble bringing to life the vision he imagined. When the 18-foot towering figure of David was unveiled, his student exclaimed to Michelangelo, "Master, it lacks only one thing-speech!"

From our Bible reading today we learn about Onesimus who was a lot like that flawed marble. He was an unfaithful, useless servant when he ran away from his master Philemon. But while on the run he came to know the Master Sculptor - Jesus. As a changed man, he served God faithfully and was invaluable to the Apostle Paul's ministry. When Paul sent him back to Philemon, he asked Philemon to see the changes in Onesimus and to receive him back as a brother in Christ.

Paul himself knew what it meant to be given another chance after past wrongs (Remember his days as Saul? Acts 9:26-28). He knew personally the transformation God can accomplish. And he saw it in the life of Onesimus. The Lord can chisel His image on our flawed lives and make us beautiful and useful too.

Do: Is there a sin or failure you think is too big or too awful for God and leaves you unacceptable in His sight? Trust God at His word, let him chisel away that flaw. Allow Him to use His Divine artistry and shape you into His image!

Pray: God thank you that you love me just as I am but You don't leave me this way. I ask Lord for You to continue to chisel away those pieces of me and those places in my life that are ugly - sinful - flawed. I submit to You, please do the work that I need done to become more like You Jesus! Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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