Today, I realised something while tracing out an expert artist's drawing. As you trace and attempt to imitate the artist's expression, you realise all the little details that you never noticed before, how they are so often overlooked, but subtly add so much to the character and beauty of the artwork you are attempting to imitate. And the more you trace, the more you are awed by the expert artist's tender skills and careful craftsmanship, that he/she is able to pay attention to such sweet little grace notes, and skillful little dabs of love here and there. Imitating an expert artist's drawing really helps you appreciate in a deeper way, both in heart and mind, the craftsmanship, creativity and character of the artist. :)

Then realised that this is akin to what the Father wants us to do, in imitating the life of Christ. For Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. He is the very picture of the Father himself - "he who has seen me has seen the Father". And we are commanded to imitate the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all our life, our words, thoughts and deeds. And it's not a vague, blurry, ill-defined portrait, as spurious post-modern pastiches would have you believe... for the Father has very clearly drawn out His image in His Son, Jesus Christ - His truth, His character, His heart, His glory, His humility, His love, His power, His majesty, His royalty, His authority, His wonder, His beauty, His holiness, His grace, His peace, His wonder, His kindness and so on, world without end.

And so as we attempt to trace out and imitate Christ's likeness in our own life, we discover so much more than we thought we knew at first. As we trace out His paths to copy onto the ragged canvases of our own lives, we see with increasing clarity what it really means to love. What it really means to walk. What it really means to talk - what it really means to be a human. Oh, Christ, the wisdom and power of God!

Romans 11:33-36
33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.