A Piece of the Picture 

“…but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. … but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. …”
Romans 8:5, 6 (NIV UK)

I’m sure almost all of you have used Microsoft Excel at some point during your professional career. It’s a computer program that helps you manage large amounts of information. The data is entered into a “cell” and then organised across a spreadsheet and highlighted according to user’s preference. Sounds kind of boring, right?

Well, one Japanese man figured out a way to make Excel really fun. His name is Tatsuo Horiuchi. And at 73 years old, he decided finally to pursue his dream of creating digital art. Horiuchi discovered that by colouring individual cells in a spreadsheet, he was able to create beautiful artwork. His paintings of Kegon Falls and Cherry Blossoms at Jogo Castle look like a master artist has painted them.

But when I heard about Horiuchi’s paintings and how he was making them, I couldn’t help but think about how his focus on each individual cell is similar to how God works in our lives.

There are so many different moments in each of our lives where we interact with one another. We may brighten our favourite Barista’s day with an encouraging word or offer a ray of hope to our neighbour by helping them with their groceries. We don’t always see the effects our actions can have on another person. And we’re not really meant to. It’s not on our shoulders to control the responses of others.

Instead, we should see these simple interactions as individual cells in God’s majestic painting. Christ is actively working to show signs of his redeeming work here and now in this fallen world. And he does so by enabling us to be channels of his grace in our relationships and working through the Spirit to bring our world into deeper communion with our Heavenly Father. See how Paul puts it in Romans: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We won’t know until the end what affect we’ve had on other people. But we can trust in our Saviour to redeem all things for his glory. Each of our actions, small or large, is like a single cell shining brightly on the grand canvas that God is painting with his transforming love.

Prayer
Righteous Father, we spend our lives living for ourselves. Help us to understand that you would have us live our lives as examples of how Christians should live for others. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen 

Study by Joseph Tkach

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About the Author:
Joseph Tkach is the President of Grace Communion International (the Denominational name of The Worldwide Church of God UK), and resides in California, USA. You are welcome to attend one of our local Church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland.  For details of your nearest local congregation, check on our website, www.wcg.org.uk under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.

Contact:
Email:  admin@daybyday.org.uk