OUR DAILY BREAD : THE CASKET AND THE JEWEL

[cimi]

October 22
Monday


THE CASKET
AND THE JEWEL

READ:
Romans 2:17-24
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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
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Canadian minister John Gladstone has made a compelling application of a sad episode in the life of Isaac Watts. That famous English hymnwriter fell in love with a beautiful young woman, Elizabeth Singer. She admired his peotry, 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 book nose, and large cheekbones. 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, How many people have rejected the good news because of its often sincere yet overly zealous witnesses! Are we unknowingly repulsive and unloving? 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. 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. __ Vernon Grounds
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~~~~~~~~~~~Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~All His wonderful passion and purity;~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~Oh, Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. __Orsborn~~~~~~~
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Righteousness in the heart
produces beauty in the character.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 2:17-24************

17 Indeed you are called a
Jew, and rest on the law,
and make your boast in
God, 18 and know His will,
and approve the things that
are excellent, being
instructed out of the law,

19 and are confident that you
yourself are a guide to the
blind, a light to those who
are in darkness, 20 and
instructor of the foolish, a
teacher of babes, having the
form of knowledge and
truth in the law. 21 You,
therefore, who teach
another, do you not teach
yourself? you who preach
that a man should not steal,
do you steal? 22 you who
say, "Do not commit
adultery." do you commit
adultery? You who abhor
idols, do you rob temples?

23 You who make your boast
in the law, do you dishonor
God through breaking the
law? 24 For "the name of
God is blasphemed among
the Gentiles because of
you," as it is written.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The central theme of Romans is that mankind cannot save itself and
that God justifies the sinner by grace through faith in Jesus alone
(Rom. 1:16-17). Paul first showed why the Gentiles are guilty (1:18-
2:16). But then he showed that the Jews, despite their privileges
as God's chosen people, are equally condemned (2:17-24), Paul highlights the hypocrisy of the religious Jews. Though they had exclusive
possession and knowledge of the law, they had failed to keep the
very law they had taught the Gentiles. Their hypocrisy dishonored
God before the Gentiles and thus indicted them. __ SKT