If you haven’t heard of the saying above, that’s because I made it up! Keep reading…

It shouldn’t come as a shock to us that God loves to speak to us because two-way communication is very normal in any healthy relationship! He uses a variety of ways to do this. The main way is through His precious and living word but He can also speak to us through other ways, such as nature.

In Proverbs 6, God tells us to learn a thing or two from ants! King David tells us in Psalms 19 that the heavens proclaim the glory of God. Recently, I came across a little parable about pencils. It was a simple and profound illustration about playing our part in accomplishing God’s purpose in which He gets the glory and we receive His joy. Here is how it goes…

Just before putting him into the box, the ‘Pencil Maker’ took the pencil aside and said, “There are 5 things you need to know. Before I send you out into the world, never forget what I’m about to tell you and you’ll become the best pencil you can be”.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in ‘Someone’s hand’”.

“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it in order to become a better pencil”.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make”.

Four: The most important part of you is what’s inside of you”.

And five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write”.

The pencil promised to remember every word the ‘Pencil Maker’ said before going into the box with purpose in its heart.

Jesus says to us in John 20:21, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”; to make disciples of all nations but He promises to be with us always, to very end of the age because without Him we can do nothing! (Matthew 28:18-20; John 15).

This is how a pencil becomes mightier than the sword!

Christ in us, the hope of glory!
Mark