Can You Glorify God?

 

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Recently I visited a church and had some time to wander in their foyer. As I glanced at Welcome Pamphlets and Missionary Pictures, I noticed some beautiful watercolor paintings on the far wall. I walked over to take a closer look.

 

As I approached the paintings I became more and more aware of the talent of the artist behind the paintings. They were gorgeous. There were five paintings. One showed a beautiful lotus blossom in vivid colors, another four fish in a stream with overhanging branches, another was a very detailed illustration of a small blue bird, another displayed two delicate swans floating in a pond and finally another a beautiful pink flower with highly detailed petals.

 

As I continued to look at the paintings I noticed there was Japanese writing along the side of each. The strokes in the words were very, very fine. I had no idea what they said, but I knew someone had spent much time writing them. I had an oriental friend in college who spent much time learning how to make these characters. The writing before me, I could tell was done by a master.

 

As I examined the paintings even more, I noticed a small marking at the bottom of each. Near the right bottom of each painting was a small burgundy colored mark that showed a square with a foot, and between the toes of the foot was a small paintbrush. This was curious to me. Was it a signature?

 

Then I found something else hanging on the wall. It was a picture of a beautiful oriental teenager. The young girl had long beautiful black hair. Her face was looking down towards the painting that she was creating. She had no arms, and one foot was deformed. Her only appendage capable of expression was holding a paintbrush, her left foot.

 

Below the painting was the story of Ms. Grace En Tien Yang the young oriental artist. She had been abandoned as an infant in the Gung Shan Market near a vegetable stand. With her missing arms and seriously deformed right foot, her parents had decided to abandon her. Unknown to her parents, the Rev. And Mrs. Hsu Yang found her and took her in and adopted her. They named her En Tien that means, “God’s Grace Be Upon You.” With much encouragement and love she grew in health, talent and in her relationship with her God. She began to paint as an outlet for her creativity and as a livelihood. She is a Foot Painting Artist currently in Taiwan and her art has been exhibited in Tokyo, Japan at many great art galleries. She is a member of the International Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.

 

As I now knew the rest of the story behind the beautiful paintings I thought how wasteful I had been. I have two arms and legs, healthy and functional. How much have I taken my blessings for granted? Sure, I have served God at times and possibly even glorified Him at times, but have I done all I can? Have I used my resources, my talents, my gifts to bring as much honor and glory to God as is possible? Luke 12:48 talks about what God requires of us, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Do we squander our talents and abilities on worldly causes and ourselves? I don’t think we have to sell our possessions and fly to Africa to become missionaries, but I am sure we all could be better stewards of our talents.

 

Romans 15:5 6 speaks of one of our goals in life, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

While we are to preach the Good News, we are also to glorify God in all that we do. We need to seek ways to be better stewards of our talents and resources. I am sure that The Rev. And Mrs. Yang never expected to adopt a young deformed girl and raise her for God when they first accepted Christ. I am sure Grace En Tien Yang never expected to live as she was abandoned in the vegetable market. But God broke through the dismal, depressed environment and used willing servants to help another helpless child become something God could use mightily for His work.

 

How are you using the abilities God has graced your life with? Are you looking for opportunities to serve God, to bring others to Him, to bring joy to a joyless world, to glorify our Lord and Master Jesus Christ?

 

John 12:28

“Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”