Verses that inspire (or maybe polish)

Have you ever seen turquoise "in the rough"?

Take a look at that picture . . . not much shine, the color is mottled, not uniform . . . there is not much there that tells you it can look like this:

Quite a difference, eh?

First, there must be a miner who knows where to find the turquoise, and which pieces are perfect for his purpose.

Then, a specialist will fracture the stone into pieces and polish them.

Finally, a jeweler will choose the perfect setting and mount the turquoise in it.

Voila! A beautiful piece.

Isn't that something like what God does with us?  He knows us all (has known us since before He formed us in the womb) and He knows which of us are perfect for certain purposes in His plan.

He takes us as rough stones and applies force to us (lovingly) in order to make us just right, and he polishes us to bring out all of the beauty that He sees in us.  Sometimes He uses life to polish us, and sometimes His word:

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. (Psalm 66:10-12)

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”   (Zechariah 13:9)

     

           All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
           training in righteousness, (II Timothy 3:16)

Then He places us in the setting that He has chosen for us.

Let's not chafe at His polishing. Let's not resent the place He has chosen for our setting. Instead, let's strive to be all that we can be, for Him.

Has He brought some verses to you this week that have polished you? Won't you share a verse that has inspired or convicted or comforted you?