August 6th
Our Coated Life
I have in my possession a round rock about the size of a large grapefruit. My dad gave it to me a number of years ago when he was in rock collecting. It has a real rough appearance and looks much like a dirty ball. But appearance is deceptive, isn't it?
On the inside of this rock is a beautiful cathedral of crystals. How do I know? Because my dad cut a rock just like this one in half.
It reminds me of the little boy who found a much smaller rock in the sand and took it home. He played with it awhile. His father noticing it said, "Let me see that rock, son." The boy probably wondered what his father was going to do with it. What did he do? He took it to the workshop, and "worked" on it. Skillfully he polished it at every angle.....the result - a beautiful diamond glittered brilliantly.
"See" said the father, "here is the rough stone you gave me." Naturally the boy wondered about it saying "how did you do that?" The father said, "I knew the hidden beauty and the value in the stone, so I freed it from its coat of dirt. Now it sparkles."
I feel that sometimes our life gets "coated" with worry, anxiety and fretting. What we need to do is to let the Lord free us. He (the Heavenly Father) can see the beauty that lies within. In fact He said, (Eccl. 3:11)
"He has made everything beautiful in its time."I am told that as when the boy grew up his father gave him the precious stone as an emblem of the worth of his life.
As my dad knew what was IN the rock - as the father knew what was IN the stone, so the Lord certainly knows what is IN you, my friend. Please don't mar your beauty or cover it up with undo anxiety. Cast your burdens on the Lord!!
May I pray for you?
Lord, we often do not feel we are "beautiful". The world has put on us a lot of guilt and shame. When we buy into this we are coating ourself with lies and deception. I ask, in the name of Jesus, that this one be freed and reflect and sparkle the Light of the world.
Amen