Today I would like to share my love of craft and relate it to Bible truths.
I was blessed to grow up in a family that were heavily involved in crafts of various kinds. My dad was a very talented cabinet maker, my mum was a brilliant knitter and I can barely remember a time she didn’t have knitting needles in her hands, and my sisters are accomplished needle workers and paper crafters.
In turn I love painting! Each painting involves quite a long process of planning, designing, and adapting an idea to achieve a cohesive picture. As many artists would tell you, finishing the painting gives a great sense of satisfaction especially, if the work enhances the initial idea.
It is the preparation work however, which frequently determines the success of the painting. For example a surface needs to be prepared so the paint will adhere to it. Undercoats need to be applied correctly and sanded to prevent flaws showing through subsequent layers of paint. Simultaneously, the correct brushes need to be used to give the desired effect. It’s no good using large brushes to paint fine details, neither is it useful to use a fine brush for painting the sky for instance.
Learning and networking is an important aspect in an artist’s ongoing journey. Skills really don’t develop unless you learn from other artists, whether through formal lessons, or by sharing knowledge and techniques. Encouragement and honest critiques are vitally important to developing confidence and ability.
An artist needs to use colour wisely. Some colours complement each other giving pleasing hues and shades, while others will completely alter or undermine the value of its neighbouring colour.
The technical aspects such as perspective and balance, need to be considered so the final painting will be pleasing to the eye.
It is always helpful to review the procedures and methods used in completing a painting, to evaluate the result and to learn from the experience.
I reflected on lessons I learned in my craft room and found there are many aspects which I can relate to my spiritual life also.
Firstly it is essential to me to know that while a talent may be something you are born with which gives you certain capabilities or skills, it is primarily a gift from God and so should be used to bring glory to Him and to benefit one another.
James 1: 17 states “every good and perfect gift comes from above from the Father of lights with whom there is no shadow or variation due to change”
Also in 1 Peter 4:10 – As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Secondly, one doesn’t become an accomplished artist overnight. There is much to learn and lots of hours of patient training needed to perfect skills.
It’s like that in the Christian life too. We don’t grow into mature Christians overnight either. It is a lifelong (often slow) process of growing in knowledge and grace, that’s achieved through regularly reading and studying the word of God; through fellowship with other Christians, and by talking to the Lord (prayer). It’s really hard to do this alone. So join a church where you will be nurtured and encouraged!
2 Peter 3:18 states “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7.
Thirdly, the process of completing a piece of art is an ongoing one. I recall seeing various projects in the early stages and wondering, how something so nondescript and muddled could ever become recognizable let alone beautiful. The artists however ‘saw’ the finished picture. They didn’t give up but worked steadily step by step till the work was indeed finished and a masterpiece evolved.
In the same way God is working in our lives, shaping us, molding us into the image of His Son. It is an ongoing process, one that continues throughout our whole lifetime. We call it sanctification!
“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand”. Isaiah 64:8
Also in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”.
Finally, with each completed painting the artist has learned from the experience, perhaps he has mastered a new technique, or perhaps he’s learned how to avoid making mistakes!
And isn’t that true of our walk with the Lord? Do we learn from situations He has placed us in? Do we ask Him for guidance, or do we try and do it all our way?
The Bible is very clear about placing God first in our lives. Proverbs 3:6 says “in all thy ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy paths”
Also in Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”
The Lord has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth and to help us in our Christian journey (see John 14:16-27) so, don’t rely on your own ability to get through life! All the help, guidance and comfort you need is yours for the asking!