7 times a day: chisel, peel, prune

What's a chisel?

It's a tool created to carve something beautiful out of material that's hard such as stone or wood.

Jesus said, 

"Watch yourselves! If your brother or sister sins, warn them to stop. If they change their hearts and lives, forgive them.

Even if someone sins against you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times and says, 'I am changing my ways,' you must forgive that person." Luke 17:3-4

To be warned by another person to STOP something can hurt our feelings.

We may think that we're doing okay and NOT in need of rebuke and correction.

Most of the time, a spiritual chisel is NOT in the hands of one who can make something precious.

Few of us know how to restore people in an attitude of gentleness and humility, which is the New Testament way of grace and wisdom. Luke 9:56; John 8:10-11; James 5:19-20

We may think that we're spiritual but when someone is caught in sin, our reactions can be unhelpful.

Paul wrote, 

Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted, too. Galatians 6:1

For some of us, there might be unholy things in our lives that are solid as a rock that need to be destroyed. 2 Corinthians 10:4 

Only a chisel can break them away to let the new person 2 Corinthians 5:17 in us shine as lights in this world. Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-15

Wouldn't we want our bad stuff to be forgiven and corrected by those inspired by the Savior Psalm 51:1-2, 10 who KNOW HOW to use a spiritual chisel to create a soft heart out of a stony one? Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 10:16-17

It's still a chisel that's sharp and strong because a hard word might be necessary. Matthew 15:12

Paul asked a church in a letter, 

Do you want me to come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Corinthians 4:21

Paul desired their perfection. 2 Corinthians 13:9

To another group of believers he wrote, 

Christ is the one we preach about. With all the wisdom we have, we warn and teach everyone. When we bring them to God, we want them to be like Christ. We want them to be grown up as people who belong to Christ. Colossians 1:28

What's left behind after breaking and chiseling? 

It can be seen as a wonderful, spiritual sculpture that shares a message. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

And the Lord Jesus Christ applies the finishing touch Hebrews 12:1 as He washes the sculpture with His word to cleanse away fragments and dust to present to Himself a glorious Church without any spot or wrinkle. Ephesians 5:26-27

PEEL

Most large onions need the outer skin and another layer or more of inner skin to be peeled away before preparing to use in cooking.

To be prepared for the Master's use, 2 Timothy 2:16, 21 we may also need to be peeled.

Do you and I care to mature spiritually to grow up into the Lord Jesus Christ's level? Ephesians 4:13-15

If we do, it will probably take a lifetime of peeling away the old person's way of thinking, talking, and living. Ephesians 4:22

A lifetime?

Have you ever thought that you had conquered some habit or sin, Hebrews 12:1 or character flaw Colossians 3:8-9 with the Holy Spirit's help, Romans 8:13 only to have this show itself again?

Just as a large onion could have layer after layer peeled carefully, so we may find that the Father will want this for us, too.

James wrote, 

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

This divine peeling is supposed to reveal the new person Galatians 6:15 created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24

PEELING OF HYPOCRITES

Think of how and why Jesus told some religious people that they were hypocrites, which literally means, ACTORS.

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:7-9

They needed layers of dead and blemished spiritual skin to be peeled from their religious "masks" they wore, which if done enough, would destroy the masks.

But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, 

"There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."

The Lord then answered him and said, 

"Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" Luke 13:14-16 

They pretended to be spiritual but their words and actions showed that they weren't developed enough.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them. Luke 11:44

Graves are full of dead peoples' bones, aren't they? 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:27-28

We may not be as full of "acting" as some religious leaders Jesus exposed but can we allow the Lord to peel away things He hates? 

These six things the Lord hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

He can peel and change us from glory to glory by His Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Since God the Father so loved the world (and you and me), John 3:16 we DO NOT need to pretend nor perform to receive His love. John 17:23, 26; Romans 5:5

We don't need to act, that is, to fake it, do we?

Can't we be transparent and open, unashamed of Him, His words, and His gospel? Mark 8:38; Luke 12:8-9; Romans 1:16

Why?

Because we can be persuaded as Paul was that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

PRUNING

Many of us haven't seen garden seeds or trees grow under our care.

So, we don't have firsthand experience with weeding or pruning.

Pruning cuts off unnecessary leaves or branches from trees.

This action helps a tree to grow better and produce more fruit, if it's that type of tree.

If you're a branch connected to Jesus the Vine, pruning is so that there is less of you seen and more of His fruit that remains. 

Jesus said,

"I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch joined to Me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain joined to Me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can't bear fruit unless you remain joined to Me.

I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to Me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can't do anything without Me." John 15:1-5

Since after pruning there would be fewer branches and leaves to hinder growth of the needed ones, humility can also show itself. Ephesians 4:1-2; Colossians 3:12 

To paraphrase the words of John the Baptist, we as individual believers must decrease and the Lord Jesus Christ must increase. John 3:30

Your thoughts?

R. Jason