And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels. v17 (King James Version)
Malachi 3:16-18
As a child in Sunday School we used to sing: “When He cometh, when He cometh to make up His jewels; All His jewels, precious jewels; bright gems for His crown.”
This is a lovely picture of how precious to God all His faithful children are. Those who love and serve the Lord are like jewels in His crown. Many Christians I have known through the years have been jewels – precious stones in God’s Kingdom.
A jewel is just a stone that has had the rough edges removed, and been cut and shaped so that God’s Light could shine through it.
Jewels make the world more beautiful. Perhaps that is why the foundations of Heaven are made from twelve precious stones (Revelation 21:19).
In the same way those who are precious to God are just ordinary people who, through faith and faithfulness in both good and bad times, have had their rough edges smoothed. They have been cut and polished by life so that God’s pure Light could shine through them. They make the world a brighter and more beautiful place.
Sometimes they are not even aware of the Light that shines through them. In what ways has God been taking the rough edges off you? In what way does God’s Light shine through you?
Gems have life in them; their colours speak and say what words fail to say.
George Eliot