Tapestry

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
Ephesians 4:11 (KJV)

Tapestries are made up of threads which are different colours, different textures, different thicknesses and different lengths. Some stay the same along their whole length while others can vary. Some overlap or are even woven together.

It seems God is weaving his own tapestry with us as the threads. No two are absolutely identical and all combinations are unique. Thankfully, though, God knows each individual thread as well as how the finished picture is to look. He knows how all those varying threads of our lives are to be woven, along with others, to make the most magnificent, glorious picture ever.

At the centre, however, won’t be us, as we may have imagined all this time. Instead we’ll find the centre to be Jesus Christ, because as the above Scripture goes on to say, different people are given for ‘the edifying of the body of Christ:’  Those who have done tapestries and other types of embroideries know that it is easier to start in the middle and work outwards. That’s what God did. He began with Jesus. “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) and continued from there.

Another thing known is that to keep harmony throughout the design the main central colour repeats within that design. God did the same. We find Jesus involved throughout the Scriptures and throughout our lives. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

So we can enjoy being a thread accepting our variations in colour, texture, thickness and length. We can also enjoy those with whom we’re woven even though they may differ from us to quite a degree, as God is the master weaver and knows what he’s doing.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable, even painful sometimes, being pushed through the canvas but those times are the ones which have us most securely attached and so should be appreciated as well as the pleasant times.

Prayer
Dear Father, we look forward to seeing the finished tapestry which You are creating, trusting the Scriptures which tell us that the future will be worth so very much more than any pain we go through now (Romans 8:18). Help us to please to hold on to that hope in Jesus.
Amen 

Study by Ruth Edwards

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About the Author:
Ruth Edwards is actively involved in her Worldwide Church of God Bristol congregation, including editing Links, a church magazine for the congregations of the South West and South Wales area.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Bristol
Emmersons Green Village Hall
Emmerson Way
EMMERSONS GREEN
South Gloucestershire
BS16 7AP

Meeting Time:
Saturday 11:30am

Local Congregational Contact:
Allan Frankcom
Email:  jf007d9991@blueyonder.co.uk