Words of Encouragement
Part 4
Lessons from a Pencil
If a Pencil were a Person,
here are the lessons God would teach it.
adapted from “A Pencil’s Tale”
1.You will be able to do great things, but only if you put yourself in someone else’s [God’s] hands.
[Pencils can’t write by themselves]
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
-Psalm 139:8-10
“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge…3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me… 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God…“You are my God.”15 My times [My life] are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.”
-Psalm 31:1,3,5,15
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
-Psalm 25:4-5
I put my hope & trust in your hands.
The second thing that God would teach a pencil
if the pencil were a person…
2. From time to time you will experience a painful sharpening.
To be a better pencil.
Verses About Pruning/Sharpening
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
-John 15:1-2
“… have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, [God Sharpening the pencil] and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.”… 10 God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline [Sharpening] seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
-Hebrews 12:5-11
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials [Sharpening] of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
-James 1:2-4.
The third thing that God would teach a pencil
if the pencil were a person…
3. Keep in mind that you can correct any mistakes that you make along the way.
If a mistake is also as sin, God forgives it and erases it so that it is no longer on your account. “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
-Hebrews 8:12
“… he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
-1 John 1:9
The fourth thing that God would teach a pencil
if the pencil were a person…
4. The most important part of you is on the inside.
Remember that on every surface that you use, you must leave your mark.
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, BUT the Lord looks at the heart.” [Inside]
-1 Samuel 16:7
The fifth thing that God would teach a pencil
if the pencil were a person…
5. No matter what else happens, you must continue to allow God to write through you.
Persevere
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful
[Keep going] in prayer.”
-Romans 12:12
“Put on [verb] the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against [verb] the devil’s schemes.”
-Ephesians 6:11
The Devil does not want us to write God’s story.
“Sing”
Sing, sing a song
Make it simple to last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Just sing, sing a song
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 3:14
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life… “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth… I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(Revelation 2:10; 3 John 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:7)
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