Placing ourselves into the story

On this date 407 years ago Rembrandt was born. He was an interesting man that painted some of the greatest masterpieces ever seen. I think his giftedness is shown more in his biblical paintings in which he shows emotion and draws the viewer into the story. That is a gift that few in history have had. 

One of the things that he did often was include himself as a character in his paintings. For instance in The Stoning Of Stephen he is seen behind the ones that are stoning Stephen. 

In Raising Of The Cross he painted himself in the background in the clothing of  his day. He understood correctly that his sins contributed to putting Christ on the cross. 

In Joseph Tell His Dreams To Joseph he depicts himself as the old patriarch. 

In The Prodigal Son In A Brothel he is the prodigal son (and his wife is the woman) 

In The Return Of The Prodigal Son he portrays himself both as the younger son and as the father. 

While none of us have the ability to paint like this master, we do have the ability to put ourselves in the story we are reading. I pray we can do this often. 

Here are this week's texts:

July 15, 2013            Neh 7:4–73, Acts 13:42–14:7, Ps 82, Prov 17:15–16

July 16, 2013            Neh 8–9, Acts 14:8–28, Ps 83:title–7, Prov 17:17–19

July 17, 2013            Neh 10–11, Acts 15:1–21, Ps 83:8–18, Prov 17:20–22

July 18, 2013            Neh 12–13, Acts 15:22–41, Ps 84:title–4, Prov 17:23–24

July 19, 2013            Esther 1–2, Acts 16:1–24, Ps 84:5–12, Prov 17:25–26

July 20, 2013            Esther 3–6, Acts 16:25–17:4, Ps 85:title–4, Prov 17:27–28

July 21, 2013            Esther 7–10, Acts 17:5–21, Ps 85:5–13, Prov 18:1–3

July 22, 2013            Job 1–3, Acts 17:22–18:17, Ps 86:title–4, Prov 18:4–6