About three centuries ago, a gypsy girl became instrumental in a life transformation of an Italian artist Domenico Feti. He already had acclaimed paintings including that of Christ in His suffering but did not understand what it meant for him. The gypsy girl stumbled upon one of those pictures while he was working to portray the girl on the canvas. She wanted to know why Christ had to suffer. A series of genuine and pondering questions on the Crucified Man resulted in a life transformation for Domenico. Soon, he did a heartfelt painting of Christ in the crown of thorns when he was at the court of Pilate. The picture titled Behold the Man had a caption in Latin that read This have I done for you; now what will you do for Me?
Later the same artwork displayed in a museum called the attention of a German nobleman Nicolas Zinzendorf. The picture and most importantly its message was incredibly moving that Count Zinzendorf, who was already a believer, decided to wholeheartedly respond to its calling. He became a part of the Moravian missions that spurred a great church revival and global missions.
Ordinary people in ordinary circumstances are invited to respond to an extraordinary call of the Love of God. This response to the love of God is worthy of a response. The painter’s heart and art changed when he realized the depth of God’s love toward him. For most people and in most cases the question boils down to how God is received in the normal situations of everyday life. That might be your challenge.
All Scripture points out to a God who moves through time, and, people, to show His love. In fact, even before you were born, he decided to create the world in which you will live where the Son of God would die. The Creator God died to redeem mankind who got separated from God because of their sins. The temptations, deception, distractions, and one’s own selfishness pull man constantly away from God’s purpose. But the Lord is calling gently to all those who are lost. Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. (Ephesians 1:7 MSG) That is the extraordinary love that God is showing.
For all that He has done for you what will you do for Him? What will you do with God’s love?