God's Best Enables Our Best

From the bestseller devotional classic God's Best for My Life, by Lloyd John Ogilvie:

'There is a powerful story told of Leonardo da Vinci. One day in his studio he started work on a large canvas. He labored on it, choosing the subject carefully, arranging the perspective, sketching the outline, applying the colors, and developing the background. Then for some unknown reason he stopped, with the painting still unfinished. He called one of his students and asked him to finish it. The student was flabbergasted. How could he finish a painting by one of the world's truly great masters?

He protested his inadequacy and insufficiency for so challenging a task. But the great artist silenced him: "Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?" he asked.

That's really Jesus' question, isn't it? He began it all 2000 years ago. His life, message, death, resurrection, and living presence started the great painting of the redemption of the world. He has given us the task to finish the painting. But there's a difference. Da Vinci left his student alone; Jesus never does that. He has given us the color palette, and He whispers his guiding insight to us at each uncertain stroke.'