October 21, 2018

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: The Real

Young artists "get" realism.   In their eyes, their work is extremely realistic...even though an outside observer may think it a bit more "abstract".  It's not that they don't enjoy abstract work.  My kindergarten students find Picasso's Cubism portraits a hoot! However, developmentally they comprehend realism more readily.  You see it.  You make it.  It's beautiful. Sometimes the honesty of realism has the power to impact the viewer in the most simplistically beautiful way (Even though we artists know how challenging a truly realistic work can be to create!).  
THE REAL BEAUTY IS....WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET!


Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.  
1 Corinthians 11:1

There are many out there that try to make the Christian life extremely complicated.  However, the reality is quite the opposite.  While Jesus was with his disciples he lived his life in a way so that they could imitate his example.  Paul reminds the Corinthians of this by calling the believers to imitate him....as he imitates Christ.  This call to imitate the Lord is not one of hoops to jump through or hidden messages.  It is simply....love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12: 30-31)  
DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE!  
The real beauty of the Christian life is that we have the example in front of us.  Scripture allows us to see Christ's example...the lives of his followers....and the directions God has given us for living a life the reflects him, glorifies him, and makes his love known. 
The real life we've been called to live comes with a beautiful guide book(The Bible).  It comes with a guide(The Holy Spirit).  It comes with one who has walked the path before us...and walks with us(Jesus).  Are you making things too abstract in your spiritual journey?  
Look to the example for the real thing!

3 comments:

  1. Beautifully said! Our fast paced 21st century has us running in circles. The older I get, the more simplicity I crave. I think it's healthier on all levels. The message if the Cross and the example Jesus gave us is pretty straight forward, simple and beautiful.

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  2. I. Love. This.
    Putting this scripture on my desk in my kindergarten classroom as fast as I can.
    Your blog is an amazing inspiration for introducing the arts to those kids who otherwise wouldn't get the chance. For those kiddos who may not be academics, but can sure create magic with paint. Thank you for sharing your work and your beliefs.

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