Ari smudged a grey blotch in the sky painted on his canvas. "Can't get this right," he said to himself.
Mom looked in at his bedroom door. "Did you finish your math?" Ari nodded. "Looks like you finished your painting for the art fair," Mom said. Ari shook his head, and Mom left.
Four-year-old Becca ran into the room holding a teapot. "Time for tea!" she yelled over and over while running in circles around Ari's easel.
"Becca! You're a nuisance! Go away!" he growled. Becca fell silent. She stood still and stared at Ari, then quietly left the room with the teapot hanging down by her side.
Ari's shoulders drooped. He set down his brush and went to Becca's room. "I'm sorry, Becca. I shouldn't have yelled at you. You're not a nuisance. I'd like some tea."
Becca skipped over to a little table set for tea. "Oh, goody! That's your green cup."
After two cups of pretend tea and cake, Ari felt pretend full. "Your tea is good, Becca, but I have to work on my painting now. Okay?" Becca nodded.
Later Mom came in to look at Ari's painting while he fussed with lines on a tree trunk. "I can't get this right," he said. "I'll never finish. It's a good thing God isn't like me, or the earth never would've gotten created. Just think, Mom, He didn't have to correct anything. He didn't make any mistakes."
"And He knew when He was done," Mom added.
"I don't think I'll ever be done with this painting." Ari sighed. "Or with doing things wrong. I yelled at Becca again this morning. I said I was sorry, but I wish I'd be kind to her to begin with."
"Ari, you do wrong things because we're all still dealing with sin in this world. But you're like an art project of God's. Because He's your Savior and Lord, He'll finish His project in you the same way He finished making the world. The Bible says God started a good work in you and will complete it perfectly on the day Jesus returns."
Ari smiled and began to clean his brushes. "I can't make my art perfect, but I'm glad I have a perfect Creator who's working on me."
–Laura Roesler
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel bad about something you said or did? Do you get frustrated because you keep doing wrong things? Even as a Christian, you’ll still struggle with sin in this world, but Jesus promises to forgive you when you admit your sin. God is at work in you, helping you be more loving to others and obedient to Him. You are His work of art, and you can trust Him to finish what He started.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV)