Precious Stones

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 1 Kings 6:7 KJV

This verse is a part of the larger story of the telling of Soloman building the temple. We see very specific details given of how it was built and the extravagance and beauty that was infused in this house of God. Soloman was blessed with wisdom, peace during his reign, and, wealth, and he, being God’s servant did not hold back on that wealth that God had blessed him with adorned the temple with the finest stones and woods and then overlaid areas with pure gold. This all represents that God deserves nothing less than our absolute best. We have nothing without Him, and we can do nothing without Him, so He deserves our very best. However, this verse stuck out to me and honestly, I didn’t really understand it. I assumed when I first read it this was done as a way to honor God by not having construction done inside but that didn’t really make a whole lot of sense either because construction did happen inside. However, upon a second reading of this during research on another subject, it hit me a little differently. These precious stones were made ready before they were brought to be laid at the temple. We being the precious stones need to be chiseled and hewn out before we are ready to be used as well. This is sanctification, now make no mistake sanctification is a continual process but before we can be used by the Lord there is an initial work that needs to be done. We need to allow God to chisel. cut, smooth our rough edges with His word, and buff the precious stone so that it can shine for His glory. When we first give our heart to God we are filled with a fire, a zeal for God but 1 Timothy 3:6 says about those seeking to be in the ministry “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” This is due to needing that time to prove himself to study, learn, and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. While not all of us may be called into a specific ministry each one of us is called to be witnesses and to spread His gospel and to be used of God we must be sanctified and be led by the Spirit. So often when we try to witness to people, we know and love, we take our head knowledge and condemn rather than coming from a place of love and following God’s leadership and this can do more harm and make it harder to reach them. Of course, this is never the intent, but this is why we must give our whole selves over and allow God to use us and work through us and the only way this is possible is to spiritually kill this flesh this is why Paul said I die daily these rough edges must be smoothed out by God getting rid of the sinful blemishes and allowing Gods beautiful reflection to shine through the precious stone. Ask God to sanctify you ask Him to smooth out any rough edges you may still have. If your desire is to be used of God, you must submit yourself fully, and just a reminder He is coming back for those who have submitted themselves fully holding nothing back. God help us today to give you nothing but our best holding nothing back from you but submitting to your perfect will. In Jesus name, we ask, Amen