Issue 1768 Chipped Chisels July 10, 2025
Many years ago, I installed a new interior door in the home where we lived. It was placed at the head of the stairs going down into the basement. Actually, it was a recycled door, in a frame designed for a different door, but it’s a new placement.
When I went to install the passage set, I noticed that the hole for the striker plate didn’t quite line up. It was a little too high. Not a big deal. A couple of chips could be taken out with a chisel to enlarge the hole. The bigger hole would still be out of sight behind the striker plate.
Out to the garage to grab one of my toolboxes. I had to do a little rooting around to find the correct box, as I’m not very good at keeping my tools organized. Finally, success! I found the chisel I was looking for. There was a problem, though.
The end cap had come off the chisel, and it had bounced around in the toolbox with an unprotected blade. The blade had several big nicks and divots. That meant I had to re-sharpen the blade before I could use it properly.
Having to sharpen the blade meant I had to find the sharpening stones and the sharpening stone oil. That was easier to do. I at least knew which box to look in.
I began with some general shaping to remove the bulk of the nicks on a coarse stone. Then, there was further shaping and sharpening on a medium stone to restore some semblance of an edge. This was followed by sharpening with a fine stone to refine the edge further.
Finally, a finer stone is yet to be used to finish the edge off. It took the better part of an hour to get the chisel to the point where it was fit to use. The actual enlarging of the hole took less than two minutes.
That’s the way things work with God. We’re flawed because of our sin, and He needs to reshape us to use us for the purpose He designed us for. Sometimes it takes big, harsh adjustments to help us become the way He needs us. As we get closer, though, the refinements are gentler and finer.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Jeremiah 18:1-4
His shaping and discipline aren’t always pleasant or easy during the process.
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11
Until next time, rejoice when He shapes you. It means He loves you and plans great things for you.
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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