Day 25 – Sticks and Stones (Emily Nisch)

Using Eternal Building Materials

I like how our authors paraphrase something that Jesus says to Martha after she’s complained that Mary isn’t helping her prepare their meal: “Mary is doing the thing that’s most important and will last, the only thing that’s eternal…. All that really matters is a relationship with Me and a relationship with others.” This quote is particularly interesting because of what the rest of the chapter is about. It’s not about having fun with friends, or even about making time in your busy schedule to stop and enjoy the day—it’s about building what matters for eternity. And what’s one of only a few things that last for eternity? People!

Everything I’m choosing now is building a bridge to eternity. Isn’t that amazing? Jesus has a vision for how we should look, as ourselves, made in his image. Jesus is making me a better and better bridge builder as he chips things away that don’t look like him or his vision for how he created me. The amazing part is that he’s chipping pieces away, sanding down edges, and knocking off sin and rebellion—because in his mind’s eye he already sees the me he’s trying to create! He’s not focusing on the sin in me, he’s pushing that sin aside so that he can see me better, the me that’s not there yet, being formed by him day by day; the me that he sees in his loving creator’s eye; the me that he’s just ecstatic to see and know more of, day by day.

So, today, let Jesus make you more and more yourself because, to paraphrase the authors, “you’re designed by your Creator to fulfil a vital purpose that no one else can accomplish but you.” And that means I need you! I can’t wait to see more of you and I as we emerge little by little from the sculptor’s clay each day.