Mosaic of Love

Scriptures: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12:4-6)

Many years ago, I went to visit a cousin of mine in Southern California and was very surprised to see him making mosaic out of color glasses himself. He had already made a few which he hang around his house in areas near windows. One of them caught my attention in particular. It was a picture of a sail boat sailing, with the white sail taking the full force of wind, with the beautiful white clouds in the blue sky above, and with the shoreline in the far distant background. It was beautiful and, to be honest with you, it was the first time I ever looked at a mosaic so close.

I noticed a few things about these mosaics. The first thing was almost none of the glasses fit into the picture had the same shape or size. Some had sharp edges and, thus, creating the needs on the other parts to be in a shape that accommodate such sharp edges. Others did not have sharp edges. But they also came with various shapes. Almost none of them were in a perfect round, square, or rectangular shape. With the regulation of the grouts, they fit perfectly in the picture and presented the beauty the designer had in mind to all viewers.

As I thought about these beautiful mosaics, I couldn’t help noticing the parallels between them and the church. Because of Jesus, we have come to know that there’s a purpose and meaning in life. We are no longer “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) This purpose and meaning in life will be realized through the exercise of the many gifts we receive. None of us is here without a purpose and everyone is essential and necessary to the picture God has in mind.

We all come with different gifts, temperament, and experiences just as those glasses came in different sizes, colors, and shapes. So often we complain about others being difficult to work with. We forgot that, even those “difficult” people may have been placed in the picture for a reason beyond our understanding. We are so accustomed to our ways and views of living that unconsciously we made them the absolute standards of living. When I looked at the mosaic my cousin put together, I saw some of the glasses he cut had such sharp edges that, without the grout and the accommodating shape of other pieces, I don’t know how they could fit in the picture. I think it’s the same with us, people of Christ. We are all different and, in some way, all difficult to some other people. But, we need to remember that the grout God used to keep us together is His love and truth.

This Easter reminds us once again the love of God who graciously gave His only begotten Son for our redemption. We were all drawn to Him because of this amazing love. As we all press forward in our journey with Him, let us not forget that, in addition to love, He also blessed us with teachings and living examples of our Lord Jesus so we would know how to live, work and interact with one another. With the grace and guidance of God, our joint efforts can be made a glorious testimony of Jesus, His Salvation and His good plan for us all. That’s the picture God wants to show to this lost world!

Prayer Requests:
For all those struggling with relationship issues in life

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for showing us Your love through Jesus on the cross. Thank You for our risen Lord and the eternal hope He brought us. We pray that, as we celebrate this Easter, please help us to remember the reconciliation we receive through our Lord Jesus and to be willing to dedicate ourselves to the peace-making work of our Lord so that Your church may be Your agent of reconciliation in this hurting generation. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!