I want to thank you for staying committed to Christ and this local branch of His Church. I was thinking of you all and how Christ will surely reward you for your faithfulness to one another while I was reading an article in an e-newsletter I received this week. It talks about how we should go out of our way to stay with our church through rough times, and how God especially uses such commitment and experiences for our own personal benefit. The author gives this lovely illustration:
Discipleship is like a rock in a rock tumbler. The rock is shined the more it bumps up against all the other rocks and water. Over time, the process turns a rock into a gem.
The article, entitled “Not So Fast – advice to those considering leaving their church”, shares how you are beautiful in Christ. And that Christ is making you more beautiful in special ways for sticking it out together. Liked polished precious stones. Keep shining God’s glory together, beloved. This is your final destination:
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:19-22)
Semper Reformanda,
Pastor Grant
Categories: Perseverance