Sitting for a Portrait
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
Have you ever sat for a portrait?
Most of us have sat down for family photos. But sitting for a portrait where someone is looking at you and taking the time to draw or paint your picture is an entirely different thing.
Before cameras came along that is the only way that people were able to have a picture of someone. It was a long process. It is was not like those ten-minute, cartoon-like portraits that are drawn at different booths at the state fair. It is also much more detailed than the stick figures that children draw of their parents.
It was a much longer time to sit there and let the artist study your features and that reproduce those features on canvas. The average portrait takes fifty hours to complete and on average the person being portrayed has to come in for a sitting at least four different times. I think I like just having a photographer take my picture instead.
The Bible is clear that Jesus wants us to be a reflection of Him.
That only comes by us sitting with Him and learning each and everything Jesus would want us to do.
Romans 8:29-30 states:
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
The neat thing is that not only does He want us to look and be like Him, He also gives us that look by His justification and glorification. Desire of Ages states it this way: “Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple,” (page 827).
Isn’t that a neat concept? Jesus is sitting for His portrait to be drawn into each one of us. He is wanting His image to be reproduced into each of us through our character. He wants that reflected character to overflow into our actions and how we love fellow human beings.
This week as you think about Jesus having His portrait drawn into your life, take time to ask Him how to best represent Him this week in your attitude, actions and reactions. This is part of growing spiritually and reflecting Jesus in all that we do!