Leonardo da Vinci had started work on a large canvas in his studio. For
awhile he worked at it-- choosing the subject, planning the perspective,
sketching the outline, applying the colors, with his own inimitable genius.
Then suddenly he ceased, the painting still unfinished, and, summoning one
of his students, invited him to complete the work. The student protested
that he was both unworthy and unable to complete the great painting which
his master had begun. But da Vinci silenced him. "Will not what I have
done inspire you to do your best?"
Our Master began two thousand years ago-- by what He said, by what He did,
and supremely by what He suffered. He illustrated His message and He has
left us to finish the picture. The apostle Paul realized this truth when
he wrote "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, because
of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:4-6 NIV). Let us
live each day inspired to do our best in living for our Master.
