The Casket and the Jewel

Our Daily Bread

October 22, 2008

“The Casket and the Jewel”

by Vernon Grounds

Read: Romans 2:17-24

Key text: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Canadian minister John Gladstone has made a compelling application of a sad episode in the life of Isaac Watts.SPAN  That famous English hymnwriter fell in love with a beautiful young woman, Elizabeth Singer.SPAN  She admired his poetry, his mind, and his spirit, but for all her admiration she could not overcome her revulsion at his appearance.

Isaac was short and slight, afflicted with mere slits of gray eyes, a hook nose, and large cheekbones.SPAN  When he proposed to Elizabeth, she all too hurtfully replied, “Mr. Watts, if only I could say that I admire the casket [jewelry box] as much as I admire the jewel it contains.”

Gladstone draws a disturbing analogy between the “jewel” of the gospel and the “casket” of the church.SPAN  How many people have rejected the good news because of its often sincere yet overly zealous witnesses!SPAN  Are we unknowingly repulsive and unloving?SPAN  How can we be “a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness” (Rom 2:19) if the beauty of Jesus cannot be seen in us?

By every means possible, let’s proclaim the gospel.SPAN  But let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will make us personally winsome and loving and free from sin so that we can attract others to Him.

This is such an important message for our time.SPAN   As earth’s history winds to a close I need to ask myself, “what am I doing to draw others to Christ and to build up/encourage/motivate the brethren who are already saved?”SPAN  We need to be careful not to make the mistake of trying to coerce persons to join the faith.SPAN  Neither are we to coerce our fellow brothers and sisters to conform to our standards.SPAN  We must aim for God’s standards and be good examples to others through Christ’s love.SPAN  Don’t worry about trying to do the work of the Lord’s Spirit.