All paper is not created equal. Fine cardstock has a heft that feels good in our hands. High-quality writing paper has texture we can caress with our fingertips.
A second-rate batch, however, no matter the quality of the paper, will have rough edges that lack the finish and fit that make it a premium product. We must sort out the rough edges, or our paper becomes worthless in others’ sight.
In our walk with Christ, we need to be aware of our edges. The little words we speak carelessly. Habits we aren’t aware of. Disinterest in the lives of the people around us. Small kindnesses left undone.
1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us “God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”
Titus 1:2 reminds us we have a “God, who never lies.”
Hebrews 4:12 says his word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
How can we smooth the rough edges of our walk with Christ? Read in Acts 17:11:
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
This verse tells us three truths:
Truth No. 1:
“These Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica.”
Some Christians are better than others. Absolutely. How? They work harder at it.
Truth No. 2:
“They received the word with all eagerness.”
We can’t pay attention to men. We must find our truth in the Word of God. The Bible is our only source of God’s truth.
Truth No. 3:
They were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
When we are immersed in the Bible, we won’t have to worry about our rough edges. The Word is a two-edged sword that will slice all wrongdoing from us, cleanly and with no ragged remains left behind.
Our quality in Christ becomes apparent when we let Jesus trim away every part that doesn’t belong.
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Code: FGO.H.06.17b.vp.esv