There’s something deeply fascinating to me about working with raw, rough-milled wood. Often, I’ll cut a slab from a tree that’s full of dramatic imperfections—cavities, rot, and other flaws—that make it seem ugly and useless, at least at first glance. When I started milling logs, I used to toss slabs like these into the firewood pile. But over time, I realized that with some effort, these seemingly worthless pieces could be transformed into something beautiful.

I’m often reminded of this when I set aside a flawed cutoff from a slab into what I call my “future project pile,” though some might mistake it for the firewood pile. In fact, I often find myself more excited about working with the imperfect pieces than the ones in pristine condition. It makes me think of Jesus—the Master Craftsman—and how I’m like one of those flawed cutoffs, full of imperfections.

I don’t claim to fully understand why Jesus was a carpenter before His ministry, or if there was a deeper spiritual significance to it. But I find the connection compelling. Carpenters and woodworkers take raw materials—cutting, planing, sanding, carving, bending and shaping them into something useful, beautiful, or both. When I work with a piece of wood that others might leave to rot or burn, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in Mark 2:17: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (NKJV).

Like that flawed wood cutoff, we have nothing to offer God—no inherent goodness or beauty that would make Him desire us. Yet, God calls us to Him, and like a master craftsman, He transforms us. He cleanses us of our imperfections, fills our voids, carves away the rot, and shapes us into something beautiful, something worthy of residing with him forever.

Friends, We all need the salvation that only Jesus, the Master Craftsman, can offer. But to receive it, we must surrender to Him, believe in Him, and repent of our sins!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time

Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.