As I sit to write this afternoon, Father, may our time together be profitable. May it produce what You would have set forth to those who would partake. Amen.
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During a little bit of downtime this past Saturday, I flipped through some Instagram reels. One popped up that shared 4 Life Lessons from a Pencil, and I thought it was very applicable, and at least for me, spiritually applicable.
First, for a pencil to be useful, it has to be sharpened. If a pencil were sentient and able to feel pain, it definitely would in the sharpening times in its life.
In yesterday’s sermon, we spoke about life’s “wilderness” periods. We don’t like them because they are, at the very least, uncomfortable and often outright painful…but they are needed if we are going to be useful. It is those times in life that hone us. We learn, we grow, we are challenged. And most importantly, we learn that God is there through it all to help us, sustain us, and show us the way forward.
Secondly, just like the eraser at the end of the pencil, we can correct many of our mistakes along the way. Some mistakes we can fix that way, while there are others, unfortunately, that are written in ink that no eraser can touch. Regardless, we can learn from our mistakes. We may wish they had not taken place, but correcting them allows us to learn and better ourselves for the next time.
I am grateful that God forgives – and forgets – our mistakes…our sins. Many mistakes are beyond our ability to “erase,” but God erases them all…even their memory, for His mind. The author of the book of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:34 when he proclaims,
For I will forgive their wickedness
….and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 NIV
And one more from Micah 7:19,
He shall again have compassion on us;
He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power].
Yes, You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea.
Thirdly, wherever the pencil is used, it leaves a mark. Like the pencil, you can write your own story wherever you go. Think of stumbling blocks as stepping stones, and never stop writing.
The thing to remember here is, yes, never stop writing, but realize that some things you write uplift others, and other things tear them down. We must not forget that, as in our second point, some things are written in ink. Learn from those things and strive to leave your mark upon the world as a reflection of the Lord Jesus in your life, not as a reflection of your selfish ambitions. May all your writing be flavored with love.
Lastly, always remember that the most important part of you is on the inside. If it were not for the graphite, even with sharpening, the pencil would be worthless. Who and what you are boils down to the core of your being, not the shell that can be seen. What is important is what is lived out for all to see.
And here is the most essential part of this whole thing,
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
You are God’s creation. You are His, though you are free to refuse His claim upon your life. But we cannot escape from the fact that, as Proverbs 19:21 proclaims,
You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. NLT
Lord Jesus, may we fulfill Your calling upon our lives. May we make our lives count, leaving a mark on the world that reflects You. Amen.
Feb 19th, 2024, Mon, 2:15 pm
