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Glory & Grace
With surprising strength and splendor, the butterfly emerges from the cocoon of the caterpillar. Its transformation is a beautiful demonstration of the glory and grace of our creative God. No longer crawling on its belly looking for food, the metamorphosed butterfly soars on the wind looking for sweet nectar to drink.
Likewise, when we become a “new creation” in Christ Jesus we receive a new spirit and a new way of living. (II Corinthians 5:17) We are no longer under the “ought tos” or the “should haves” of the law of sin and death which brings condemnation and rebellion. We are under the grace of God that empowers us to become all we were created to be. His grace changes us from within from glory to glory. As we submit to this new way of living, we become stronger and stronger in our spirit man. We begin to live our lives naturally supernatural—radiant with His glory and full of His grace. Bob George said it perfectly in his book, Classic Christianity,* “You were once a worm; now you are a butterfly. Fly like a butterfly!”* And never underestimate the power of a transformed life.
Before this painting was even a thought, I heard a sound. It seemed to be the sound of a mighty wing displacing the atmosphere with a loud WHOP, WHOP, WHOP as it flew by. From that sound came the inspiration for the “Glory and Grace” butterfly. Its size alone indicates the spiritual strength of a transformed Christian to change the atmosphere wherever he or she goes—to dispel and displace the darkness—to light up the world in a very big way.
Scripture References:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8 NIV).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:1-6 NKJV).
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)).
* George, Bob. Classic Christianity. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House, 1989. Print.
By, Ginger E. Mosher
www.GEMgallery.org