Higher Minimums
Theme of the Week: Work in Progress
David Swartz
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
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Key Bible Verse: … until we come to … be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Bonus Reading:Ephesians 4:14-32
Areporter interviewing violinist Itzhak Perlman, asked how many concerts he played in a year. His answer: "A little over 200."
The interviewer then asked how many of those were performed at his best. Perlman thought for a second and said, "Maybe two or three, four at most."
His answer caught the reporter by surprise. If he performed at his peak only a handful of times out of 200, how was Perlman supposed to know if he was improving? With a slight grin Perlman said, "My worst now is better than it was 10 years ago."
We may be under construction in some areas all of our lives. It's natural to assume that if we can't see results, there are none. But maybe we've failed to notice that over time Christ has lifted imperceptibly the entire plane of our lives.
Michelangelo was seen dragging a huge chunk of marble down the street. When asked why he bothered, the sculptor replied, "Because there's an angel trapped in here waiting to be let out." Like a sculptor, Christ will chisel away at the clay of our lives until what only He could see is evident to all. Angels will marvel at His skill.
—David Swartz in The Magnificent Obsession
My Response: Looking back five years, one area in which I've made progress is …
Thought to Apply: Don't be yourself. Be superior to the fellow you were yesterday.
—source unknown
Adapted from The Magnificent Obsession (NavPress, 1990) by permission.
Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.
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Lord, don't let me accept staying stunted; give me the desire to develop into a solid disciple.
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