Think about Michelangelo and David for a second. That masterpiece didn’t start with the perfect shape. It started as a big, rough block of marble. And here’s the fun part—he didn’t add anything to make it beautiful. Nope. Every single strike of the chisel was about taking something away. Every chunk he removed got him closer to the image he already saw in his mind.
That’s exactly how God works with us in discipleship. He’s not just sprinkling life lessons or spiritual confetti on top of us and calling it good. He’s actively removing the things that don’t belong in the masterpiece He’s creating. Sometimes that’s obvious stuff—anger, pride, fear. But sometimes it’s sneaky: habits, attitudes, relationships, or even “good” things we thought were part of who we are.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB) says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Becoming a disciple isn’t passive—it’s active. Every choice to follow Jesus is like letting Him strike the marble in just the right spot. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable, even painful, and sometimes God removes pieces that feel familiar or useful—but it’s not punishment. It’s preparation, clearing away the extra stuff so the true image of Christ in you can shine through.
A Response for the Week:
Take 10 minutes this week—maybe with your coffee, maybe hiding from the chaos, maybe in your car—and ask God to show you what He’s chiseling away in your life. What’s that piece you thought belonged, but doesn’t actually belong in the masterpiece He’s creating? Surrender it, let Him do His work, and watch the masterpiece start to emerge.