What a magnificent piece of art. It is vast, ornate, and full of color and splendor. The sum of it is enormous. If you zoom way in to the stitching detail, you can see the intricate workings of each thread. The manner in which the stitches weave together creates a majestic scenery. Even the very small parts…especially the very minuscule details of the tapestry are filled with fine workmanship and preciseness.
The tapestry hangs as a prize possession in the family room of a King. The tapestry represents his conquest, his greatness, his beauty, his family, and his love for all. He fought and risked all he had for the tapestry. It now hangs in the place of highest honor. He has great admiration and love for the tapestry as it represents his life purpose and His greatness.
The tapestry is The Church of the living God….the bride of Christ. It includes you, me, and all of humanity. It is completely beautiful in every way.
The tapestry includes the most wonderful details down to the smallest level. And this is where you and I are found.
We are in the tapestry, but our part….our threads….are quite small, yet extremely vibrant, colorful and grand….but small in the scheme of the entire tapestry. Even though they are miniscule in scope compared to the entire tapestry, they most definitely can be seen. Not only are they seen, they are needed…each thread is needed to make the whole what it is. Perhaps behind the tapestry where the knots lie….there lies the ugliness we once knew and the ugliness we still hold onto. Perhaps only the shiny, beautiful and holy parts of us, our pure selves, as seen from God, are the parts that show on the front of the tapestry. Perhaps his light shines down and draws out the beautiful, redeemed parts of our lives and that is the part of the tapestry that is His Bride in her glory.
We think our days and our deeds are unseen or unimportant. We think our small acts of kindness and love for others are not documented…..but they are. They are all documented, every one, in this tapestry of our lives. Just like a particle…when you put it under a microscope you can see so many sub-parts….atoms, neutron, protons, and even sub-atomic matter. Each part is intricate, purposely ordered, and beautiful in their detail and design. The details of our lives are no small thing. We think they are small, but they are not. They matter greatly.
Ever seen a plant’s leaf close-up? Each leaf has tiny veins that carry nutrients to each part of the leaf. Even a boring leaf, yes a leaf, has four layers and is more complex than you may think. The upper epidermis layer, a palisade layer (that carries most of the photosynthesis), the spongy layer (whose cells give off gases) and the lower epidermis. Each layers is fantastic in it’s order, purpose and splendor….no detail, no tiny fraction is insignificant.
When you zoom out you see a beautiful leaf that is part of a branch and part of a tree…which is part of a garden…the garden is part of the tapestry.
The point is….all of our acts of love and kindness are part of the tapestry God has woven. We are part of His redeeming, restorative story. The small acts of courtesy, our small thanks to a cashier, our small acts of patience for someone ‘in our way’, our small thoughts of grace, our small reaching out to a sick person, our quick phone calls to check on an elderly person, our not-so-small acts of caring for a sick loved one or an in-law, our acts of courage, of carrying out our convictions, our acts of obedience and the small acts that enhance our marriage and relationships….all of these actions, small or big are quite noticed and tightly threaded into the tapestry. When your thread and mine are intertwined and our lives touch in some way, we are then together in the tapestry. Our actions toward each other effect the outcome…the very fabric of the tapestry.
The tapestry, The Church, is a living thing. It is being ordered and built and woven together each day. One day God will bring the entire tapestry of His Church to completion and He will hang it in His favorite room in His house. God will be very happy at the beauty and completeness of the tapestry and we will be wed with Christ in a complete sense.
So, keep doing the small things that no one sees. Keep saying the kind words that seem small. Keep being patient with the co-worker. Keep smiling and hoping and praying for God’s hand, keep the faith, keep loving the neighbor you aren’t that fond of, keep helping the homeless person or the friend get through the divorce, keep on honoring those around you, especially your spouse, keep being honest…..whatever it is…..spin a beautiful life for the King.
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The threads of our lives are woven in tight, our days made one including our plight.
To weave a picture of time here on earth; both joyous and raucous in fullness and dearth.
The tapestry tells of our longings, our ways; our joy and our pain and our grandest of days.
It’s the best we have for the King we so love, our purest and grandest, yes, like a dove.
The slightest of love and kindness we share, make for vivid pictures, certainly rare.
We beam for His glory forever a day and glance at his heart and shine away.
Colossians 3:12 New Living Translation Bible: “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Ephesians 4:32 New Living Translation Bible: “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Romans 12:9-13 New Living Translation Bible – “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
