Visiting Alaska one summer, we toured a gold mine. We panned for gold in the tailings from the mine. Our guide demonstrated the technique. I grabbed a pan and headed for the sediment filled water. Dip, swirl, dip, swirl; I found gold in my pan! I saw minuscule gold flakes. Sadly, the “pile” my efforts produced was about half of the size of a pencil eraser. Well, so much for finding something valuable in the dirt.
WHAT IS VALUABLE?
Isn’t it interesting what is valuable? My heart warmed recently when a friend told me “You’re a gem!” It is encouraging to know she considers me precious. Later I found myself pondering how we are each a gem to God, considering that we are small and encased in dirt. The Bible makes it clear how filthy those layers imprisoning us are.
- “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
DECLARED VALUABLE
It’s amazing that God intentionally looks for and finds us, declaring us valuable while we are still covered in grime. The heavenly Gem Hunter delights in us.
- For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous person though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
MADE EVEN MORE VALUABLE
God, the Master Craftsman, uses specific circumstances to carefully shape us by removing the impurities. This makes us even smaller, but more valuable. He never quits before the job is done. Even when I feel like quitting, God never does.
- And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
- I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. (Philippians 1:6)
GROWING IN BRILLIANCE
As God shapes and transforms us, we reflect His light with growing brilliance. Hallelujah!
- And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:18)
Please join me in prayer: “God, thank you for valuing me, finding me in the dirt and transforming me into something beautiful. Help me remember that I am a priceless treasure to You each step through the shaping process. May I turn out to reflect your glory every day!