NOVEMBER 22,  Proverbs 27:17

Jeremy sighed as he perched on the arm of his dad’s chair. “I’m tired of trying to be nice to Tat Lee, Dad. He’s always bugging me,” grumbled Jeremy just as Blake, his younger brother, dashed into the room. “Today in Sunday school, Tat Lee kept poking my arm. Why can’t he grow up? He…”

“Dad! Can we go and look at my rocks now?” asked Blake, interrupting his brother. “It’s been a whole week since I put them in my rock tumbler!” “It takes way longer than that to polish stones,” Jeremy reminded Blake. “If you take them out now, they won’t look much different from when you put them in.” “That’s right,” agreed Dad. “We’ll change the grinding agent pretty soon, but the rocks have to tumble for several weeks before they’re smooth and shiny.” “Okay,” said Blake. He sighed as he left the room. “I’ll leave them alone.” After a moment, Dad murmured, “I guess Tat Lee isn’t polished yet.” Jeremy cocked his head. “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“I believe you said he accepted the Lord at Bible camp just last year, right?” Dad asked, and Jeremy nodded. “So he’s a new Christian, and it takes a lot of polishing to make a person be like Jesus,” explained Dad. “We’re all at different stages of spiritual growth. Those of us who have learned some lessons about how to behave need to have patience – especially with new Christians.”

“You mean I need to be more patient with Tat Lee?” Jeremy asked. He sighed as he thought about it. “When I’m annoyed with him, I guess it shows that I’m not polished enough myself,” he admitted quietly. Dad nodded. “The Bible talks about iron sharpening iron–and I think that’s a little like a grinding agent polishing rocks,” he said. “Maybe God wants Tat Lee’s shortcomings – and yours – to work like grinding agents to polish each other.”

“Okay, but is it alright to ask him to stop if he pokes me?” wondered Jeremy. “Sure,” said Dad. “Ask him politely, be patient as you get to know him better and as he learns more about the Lord.”

“I will,” Jeremy promised. “Maybe I can help him with some things in our Bible lessons, and I’ll try to remember that I’m learning patience from him. Like you said, we can help each other.”

Thought: The polishing process isn’t finished – for you or anyone else.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I pray I’d always remember all Christians are still undergoing the polishing process and I must learn to help others, as You send them to help me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.