Finishing the Picture

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"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." (2Ti 1:13, NKJV)

There is a story told of Leonardo Da Vinci and one of his students. The Master had prepared a canvas, mixed the palette, sketched in the picture of what he was going to paint, and began applying his brush to the work -- laying in colors and tones, shadings and hues that brought the sketch to life with every stroke.

Then, without any warning, Da Vinci turned to his student and handed him the palette and brush, saying, "You finish it."

The student was taken back. "Your greatness," he said in true humility, "I cannot even presume to finish your work."

And Da Vinci replied, "Will not what I have done inspire you to do your very best?"

This is essentially what the apostle Paul was saying to young Timothy. "Hold fast the pattern of sound words" is a phrase which means to keep within the outline that I have sketched out for you, and finish the picture. Let your life be a living example of truth, once again, becoming flesh and walking among us.

In this day when our world is filled with sketchy people -- who are still undefined and colorless, without perspective or tone -- may God bless us with the faith and love it takes to become those who finish the picture.
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