Diamonds for the Lord 💎

Today, we are going to talk about diamonds. But not just any diamond. We are going to talk about a very special diamond, and that is the diamond that is YOU. We each begin as diamonds in the rough, before the day of our salvation, when the Lord begins to shine us up one facet at a time. He begins to cut away the useless parts as our many facets begin to show through for him. When we give our lives to Christ, we are in the master's hands, and so he begins to polish us to perfection. The more we become like him, the more we shine with his glory.

When I began to learn some things about diamonds, I realized more and more that they are a perfect analogy for our relationship with the Lord. Diamonds are the hardest element known to man, because diamonds are the only material made of just one single element. That element is carbon. The reason it is so durable is because the carbon has become crystallized. So how did this happen, and where do diamonds come from?

They are formed 90-125 miles below the surface of the earth! Imagine, such a beautiful gem begins deep in darkness! Exactly where every one of us was before the Lord called us into the light of his saving grace.

I Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Just as a diamond will never shine if it remains deep in darkness inside the earth, so we can never shine as we should for Christ, until we become his through salvation.

We may have to go through some trials as he strengthens us, and cuts away the parts of us that keep us from shining for his glory. He wants to transform all that is us, into a vessel that lives for him. He desires every part of our love, our devotion, our worship, our home, our everyday life pattern, our life at our jobs, our life with our families, our recreational choices. He even wants to be in battles we choose to pick up, or lay down. If we strive to follow his word to keep him at the center of all those parts of us, he has promised to help us all along the way, throughout the life he has chosen for each one of us. We can only know him intimately by turning over more and more of ourselves to him.

Scripture tells us there are 2 spirits warring in each of us as believers: Our fleshly spirit and God's Holy Spirit. The more we walk in his Spirit, the less we obey the lust of the flesh. So to shine for Him, we must let more and more of his light in, as the old spirit of sin becomes less and less. How interesting that 50 % of a diamond in the rough has to be destroyed in order for a beautiful diamond to be formed.

His desire is that when we meet him, we will be shining brightly, not lackluster in our own spirit, but full of his Spirit in every part of our lives.

We have nothing in ourselves to give him glory, it is the power of his Spirit within us that teaches us to glorify him. The more we begin to reflect the light of the Lord's Spirit in our lives, the more brightly we shine for him.

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Just as diamonds are each unique, and come in many colors, shapes and sizes, with various internal characteristics, so are we each a unique and special creation of God.

The Lord knows we are all different, he knows we are each a different story in our minds and hearts.

Psalm 139:1-3 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Once we are his, we are diamonds in the rough that have been placed in the Master diamond-cutter's Hand. Just as diamonds can take anywhere from 1 day, to months, or even years to form, each of us grows at a different pace, but our Lord is patient with us, loving and kind, and full of mercy. Everything he allows in each of our lives is always for our ultimate good. Our loving Lord sees the lovely diamond we can be for him, and so he continues to cut and polish us.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

So, just because a diamond is the hardest element known to man, doesn't mean a diamond can't be broken. When a diamond cutter applies too much pressure to a weak point within the molecular structure of the crystallized carbon, it will fall away into many pieces, and so it decreases in value. When the chisel is in the wrong hands, a diamond can be shattered at its weakest points.

In the hands of our Heavenly Father, we need never be shattered, for he knows just how much pressure we can stand to stay whole and strong, and will always provide a way to withstand the pressures of our life.

I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The same thing that makes a diamond pure and strong is the same thing that moves it from deep inside the earth up to the surface: it is the intense heat of volcanic activity. An erupting volcano.

Beauty for ashes. Sound familiar?

So what are the tools God uses to form each one of us into a diamond of great value to him? Where does he begin his work after he calls us up out of the darkness?

Even though we are all different and unique individuals, there are three things each of us have that are the same, and it is these three things that make us who we are:

The thoughts of our mind and hearts

The words of our mouth

The actions we take

This is where the Lord begins his work of love.

The tools He uses are his Spirit and his Word.

Our thoughts, words, and actions are the three things that will determine how much of our lives belong to him.

Everything, either good or bad, begins with a thought.

Sometimes we will hesitate to take action on our bad thoughts, but words fall out of our mouths so easily.

If we can just get control of our words, we can avoid that feeling of sorrow that comes from something we said that displeased the Lord.

So our thoughts must be monitored carefully to keep those wrong words from being spoken, and wrong actions from being taken.

II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Thankfully, people don't see our thoughts, but the Lord does, and we can stop them and redirect them, before they come out in words.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Once unrighteous words are heard by others, they can't be recalled, only regretted.

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

This is a very good verse to remember.

But here is the good news- no matter what we struggle with in ourselves that makes us lackluster to those around us, we have the same power of the Holy Spirit inside every one of us who are his children. He is our anchor and that anchor is secured at BOTH ends. We don't have to hold on for dear life to the rope that keeps us as his child! When we fail, when our grip slips in disobedience, the anchor still holds, because Jesus is securing it at both ends with His Spirit, not ours!

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

This verse reminds us that the Holy Spirit is always present and available to us. The way to stop our flailing in those waters of life that keep overwhelming us is also the same for every one of us: It is to lay hold of God through his word.

John1:1, 1:14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus IS the word, and the word is GOD! So we see why being in the word of God is the way we lay hold of God, the way we learn to infuse his character into our thoughts, words, and actions. It isn't always easy, because our emotions overwhelm us, our own spirit takes over, and suddenly we stumble again on a thought, a word or an action.

How good it is to know that God knows our weaknesses and understands the struggle it is to stay in the path of righteousness. This is why he gave us his word. God's living word is the way we learn to know him. It is his Spirit that teaches us about him. How can we then be transformed by him if we don't study his word?

II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The more time we spend devoted to him, the more we draw nigh to him, and spend time in prayer, the more he will draw nigh to us.

James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

By submitting ourselves to him, we are resisting the devil. That is a promise! A wonderful promise. The more we get to know the Lord through his word, the more we begin to apply the principles in his word to this rough diamond that is us. Each time he cuts another facet, and polishes it with his Spirit, the more his light is seen in us, and reflected from us. The more our diamond shines for him!

Ephesians 1:17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

This certainly sounds like we as God's children have all the power we need to make the changes necessary in our lives that will make us shine for his glory!

So what are we, as diamonds in the rough, to do? There are some practical ways to surrender our will to his Spirit. If you don't think it, you won't say it. When thoughts come to mind that are displeasing to God, replace them with a memory verse, or any part of a scripture that will change your thought processes to God's word.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

That is good for thoughts and speech, but what about actions? When you hesitate to do something that you are not sure is pleasing to God, STOP. Think. Overcome. Pray. Ask God to give you peace to move forward. Be sure to consider what his word says about it.

If his word tells you it is the wrong action, then turn around. By turning around, you are drawing nearer to him. This is when you reflect his glory, because you have overcome your own spirit to knowingly sin, by the power of his Spirit.

If we know we have sinned by thought, word, or action, we need to confess it to the Lord, and not dwell there. Move on, the Lord has heard you and he is faithful and just to forgive you.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103: 13-14 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

The Lord knows that this is about living to become more like Jesus one day at a time. Learn from it and move forward. That is what he wants you to do. The thing to always remember is that every word we speak and every action we take starts with the thoughts of our minds, which is in direct connection to our hearts. Thoughts and words are usually found walking holding hands, and actions are usually walking right behind them. Whose mind are you using at any given time? Yours? Or his? This simple question is a wonderful way to walk in peace with God every moment. Nothing delights our Heavenly Father more than drawing near unto him in obedience to his word, and talking to Him in prayer. Only the Holy Spirit can renew our minds, so the more we let him do that, the more our words and actions will reflect his Spirit, in every facet of our being. So the mind is what God renews, then the heart follows with our words. Our actions then become something useful for God, because they are the works of his Holy Spirit. They become something God can use for his glory, and no longer our own useless dead works which will burn in the day when the fulness of his glory is revealed.

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You are God's diamond. God's desire is to make you shine for his glory, in every facet of your life, through thought, word, and action. Until he saved you by his Spirit, there was no light shining from you at all that came from him. So the question each of us should ask ourselves is this:

At the end of my life, how much of me will be left, and how much of me will be him?

How much of me will be shining with HIS glory?

Written by Laura Novotny

Shiloh Baptist Church