Jude 21, "Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ with his mercy to give you life forever."
Life. Once it begins there is no stopping it. Of course, the first few years are the easiest as mommy and daddy take care of your every need and teach you everything. Then there are those toddler years discovering the world around you. As a child life seems pretty easy yet you can never seem to grow up fast enough. As you muddle through those teenage years, you're beginning to discover that life is not always a bed of roses and there are good days and bad days. Then of course, come the adult years and you wish you could be a kid again. Life, from your first breath, has begun for you and it's just going to keep moving forward.
As an adult I can't take what I've learned and go back and do things differently. I also don't believe I need to because my life experiences have brought me to where I am today. I can take the things I learned and apply them to my life from now on. Today we're going to look at six stones and minerals and see how we can go through life and apply Jesus to them. Next time you think of them or see them you can remember these things.
Quartz: A quartz is broken down to a very small stone that can be found in watches. Not the smartwatches so many have today, but the older watches with an actual clock face and moving hands. Do we actually remember how those work 😊 It is actually the quartz inside the watch that keeps the hands moving. So, let’s begin with that. Time.
I've talked about how time just keeps moving forward. Each new day brings us another 24 hours. In those hours how do you use your time? Hopefully at work you use it efficiently to get things accomplished. Then there's those “eight” hours of sleep we get. But, what about the rest of your time?
Do you waste it away on your phone apps or maybe veg in front of the TV? Do you take time for your family or, if you have children, send them off in front of the electronics so you can be in front of yours. Do you make time in your routines and schedules for prayer and devotions? Do you make time throughout any given week to serve the Lord or preach the gospel?
Look what Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us, “So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.”
I'm not saying the internet (or whatever your time waster is) is bad, but we should be setting boundaries and planning our days in a way that glorifies God. As I write this, I am also writing it as a reminder to myself. I have and can get caught up in things even as simple as Pinterest or an older TV show I want to binge on.
My prayer for myself and for my readers is that we can examine our time and make sure we are spending it wisely as we begin to understand what the will of God is for each of us. That we can find a balance with the Lord in the center. When free time comes up let's all ask ourselves, ‘Does what I'm doing have an eternal impact? Could I be doing something else with my time that would glorify God more?’
Grind Stone: We've almost all have heard this phrase ‘keep your nose to the grindstone' which implies that we need to work hard and study if we want to accomplish anything in life. One of the few stories that this originated from is back when grindstones were used to sharpen a farmer's tools. The stone was quite big, and the farmer usually had to sit in front of the stone holding the tool to the stone as the wheel spun. They were so close to the stone that it looked as if their nose was touching it, and they had to stay focused on their task until the tool was sharpened.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 has been quoted several times when it comes to work, “Whatever work you do, do your best, because you are going to the grave, where there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom.”
Work hard, keep your nose to the grindstone and yes it will pay off. Psalm 128:2, “You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things.”
To live life, we have to work yes, but the Lord takes this a step further. Colossians 3:23-24, “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Yes, we must have jobs, but we also are asked to work for the Lord. He commands us to share the gospel in all we do and say because we choose to serve Jesus. In all we do we need to use the gifts God has given us for His glory. Using our talents shows those around us the love we have for Jesus. Our time on earth should help us live, but more importantly the Lord is coming again, and we should put our nose to the grindstone in sharing Jesus and helping saving souls.
Galatians 6:9, “We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up.
Romans 12:11, “Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.”
When we choose to be lazy this is what the Bible tells us Proverbs 21:21, “Lazy people’s desire for sleep will kill them, because they refuse to work.” In other words, avoid all temptations of doubt and laziness and you will thrive in life.
Salt: this is one of my favorites. Salt is used to add flavor, it also can preserve food. We are told in Matthew 5 that we are the salt of the earth. We need to help add flavor to the gospel by sharing God's wonderful love to others.
Colossians 4:5 says our words should be as salt, adding flavor to those around us that they can see Jesus and find Jesus for themselves. Bitter words only turn those around us away from the Lord.
Salt is an important mineral. It preserves food, brings out flavor, soothes and heals, balances fluids in the blood and is vital for nerve and muscle function. Salt is necessary for life.
This is the best part. Sometimes when you have something salty you want water, right? Well, when you mix a little salt in with those around you, they become thirsty. This is when you can lead them to Jesus the Water of Life.
Something as small and simple as a stone or mineral and yet we can find a deeper meaning when we just take time to look and listen to what the Lord is sharing. As you can see this is a two part blog so if you want to learn about the other three stones, come back for the second half. Let Jesus into your heart daily and use your time, energy, and character to help spread the gospel. Live each day in the things that have to be done to live but use some of your extra time to show the world Jesus, or at least to those around you. This world is moving forward and not for the better, the Lord is coming soon, and we need to do our part in telling the world, so all have a chance at salvation.
One way we can build our life with Jesus is to take time to read and study the Bible. Jesus is through the pages of the Bible and He can direct and guide us and help us become more Christlike when we spend time with Him. Our foundation becomes firm and when the winds and storms come we won't be shaken because we are built in Jesus and He is caring for us. Let's continue our study giving all to God learning what we can offer to help in sharing the good news of Jesus.
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