The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Broken Becomes Beautiful" for Saturday, 31 January 2015 - Scripture: Ephesians 4:14 As a result, we aren’t supposed to be infants any longer who can be tossed and blown around by every wind that comes from teaching with deceitful scheming and the tricks people play to deliberately mislead others. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, 16 who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part.
We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.[2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)]
The oceans offer up objects of astounding beauty — seashells and sea glass cast up on beaches — free for the taking. With sea glass, the sea is the sculptor. A bottle breaks, and the pieces are cast into the sea. Waves and tides tumble the shards; their sharp, rough edges are smoothed. At the same time, seawater reacts chemically with the glass, pitting and frosting the surface. The sea transforms the broken, discarded glass into colorful gems.
When I behold a piece of pure sea glass, I am reminded of God’s ability to transform our souls. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God accepts our broken selves and begins to work in us. As we seek God’s help and obey God’s word, our rough edges, our sinful natures, are worn away. We become more like God, transformed into pure and perfect souls pleasing to God. Christians who are maturing reflect the beauty of the Holy Spirit at work in them.
Read more from the author, here.
"More From Pamela"
My daughter Becky introduced me to the fun of finding sea glass on the beaches of Rockport, Massachusetts. We’d comb the beach together, pouncing on pretty pieces before the surf washed them back into the ocean. I store my sea glass in an old blue quart canning jar that sits on a shelf in my office. It reminds me that I’m a work in progress, as God smoothes my rough edges. I’m so thankful that He never gives up on me.[Pamela Crowe]
The Author: Pamela Crowe (Delaware, USA)
Thought for the Day: As God transforms us into mature Christians, broken becomes beautiful.
Prayer:Dear Lord, we want to grow close to you. Help us to obey your word always. Amen.
Prayer focus: Oceanographers
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