Michelangelo Mentality

• Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
• The best artist has that thought alone which is contained within the marble shell; the sculptor’s hand can only break the spell to free the figures slumbering in the stone.
• It is well with me only when I have a chisel in my hand.
• I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
• When they asked Michelangelo how he made his statue of David, he is reported to have said, “It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn’t look like David.”

I honestly don’t know if Michelangelo actually said any of these quotes, but the principles behind them regarding the statue of the angel, the statue of David, the chisel in hand, and the vision for the sculptures are all fascinating. What if we see in people the potential of what they could be . . . like Michelangelo saw in a block of marble?

Every person is made to image Jesus Christ. They have the potential to love, serve, and live like Him. God is the great Artist, and He only makes masterpieces. Yet, we have turned from Him in our hearts and become corroded. Yet, we are not hopeless!

God sees what we could be and has made painstaking choices to give us the ability to change. He also desires for us to partner with Him to help others change. We must see what He sees in others. We often only see failures and weaknesses. He sees a diamond in the rough.

• What if we saw a disciple-maker of Jesus Christ in every person even if they currently don’t believe in Jesus Christ or even hate Him?
• What if we told ourselves we must work to get the disciple-maker out of them and chisel away at everything that doesn’t look like Christ?
• What if we set the disciple maker free that is trapped within others?
• God is the Sculptor and has the proverbial chisel in His hand, but He desires for us to participate in the process of shaping others.

We must see the disciple-maker in each individual and get that out of them. We must be careful, however, not to make people projects. They are humans, not hobbies. It starts with praying for them, serving them, and meeting their needs. God has to do the rest. We never give up on them but if they cross over and begin to put their trust in Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to guide them.

They may look like a worthless block of marble that is just in the way, but we must look past their weakness, failures, and what we initially experience in their presence. If you don’t know how to lead someone from being an obstacle to a masterpiece, you can learn. The masterpiece doesn’t mean perfection but being useful. It takes time, effort, and a Michelangelo mentality. Want to learn more?