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Problems or Pearls
Jerisha Melbin, Missionary, BYM, Chennai
Pearls are precious stones used to
adorn oneself. But what makes them different from
other precious stones is that, they are not mined
from the earth but rather taken from a living
creature an oyster. Besides, it is not readily found in
oysters. It is created with pain and agony by the
oyster when it tries to wrap the irritant in its body.
Pearls are made up of a very common substance -
calcium carbonate. But, what makes them unique is
that it takes almost 7 years for a pearl to be formed.
The thinner and more numerous the layers, the finer
the luster. Hence, pearls are used as a metaphor to
denote something very rare, fine, admirable and
valuable.
An irritant is something that need not
be there, like a thorn in the flesh. Certainly, no one
would want it. People would say, "I don't deserve
this". Yes, that is the case of an irritant. But, see what
the oyster does with the irritant! It turns the very
irritant into something adorable.
Our Lord Jesus suffered great agony and
gave His life on the Cross to redeem us. He wrapped
us, irritants with His righteousness, making us
beautiful in God's eyes.
"For to this you have been called, because Christ
also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that
you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin,
neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was
reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered,
he did not threaten, but continued entrusting
himself to him who judges justly" (1 Pet 2: 21-23).
Of all things, Christ has called us to, He has called us
to suffer! Besides, He has set Himself as an example
for us to follow the way we ought to react when
meted out with such injustice. Though we may be
treated as sheep to be slaughtered, yet in all these
things, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:36,37).
When we think, it is too much to bear, let us
remember that greater the number of layers in the
pearl, greater the luster. Hence, let us endure. Let us
look at some of the people who, while being captive,
were a blessing to their captors.
The Steadfast Slave
Joseph was sold as a slave. He could
have sulked down based on what he faced. But he
just kept looking unto God who was with him. "…
the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's
sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had,
in house and field" (Gen 39:5).
Not many of us have a Christian
overseer over us. Let our faithfulness bless their
house. Our integrity may increase our work load like
Joseph. But, let us continue to be a channel of
blessing for them till the appointed time of the Lord
rather than moan because of the work load.
The Caring Captive
We don't even know her name. The
only thing we know is that she was a girl. How painful
it would have been for her to live as a slave, far away
from her parents, from her hometown, from her
friends… Yet, she chose to be a blessing. She
mustered up courage and spoke to her mistress,
Mrs. Naaman. She believed that the Lord Jehovah is
the true God and that Elisha can heal her master. It
was her tiny initiative that changed a leprous skin to
August 2019| www.bymonline.org | page 09