Glistening Stones

​One of the ways God reveals His glory to us is through His creation.  The prophet Habakkuk declares, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14)
 
As I visited Pennsylvania's Tyler State Park with my grandsons last week God was revealing His glory to me through the stones of the river bed.  A great expanse of the bed was exposed since we have not had much rain lately.  As the boys skimmed rocks into the water the display of stones that had been deposited by the water caught my eye.  Most of the stones were reddish brown, tan and gray in color. But every now and then I would find a cream or rose-colored stone.  Its composition was different from the other stones because there was quartz in the mix.
 
Like a child who has discovered treasure, I began to search for a few of these special stones to take home with me.  Scattered around the bed of stones were puddles of water.  I was drawn to the stones in the water because they glistened.  I selected a few stones and cleaned them off.  As I did so, they dried and were not quite as attractive as before.  God began to use this observation to speak to me.
 
First, He reminded me that He is the "Living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him."  We, the people of God, are also living stones "being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood..." (1 Peter 2:4-5)  Then He pointed out the difference between the stones that were wet and those that were dry. There was no sparkle to the dry stones.  The water definitely added to the eye-catching shine of the stones that drew me to them.
 
We, as living stones, are meant to shine the light of Jesus to the world around us.  This can only happen as we are filled and soaked in the Living Water of Christ. Jesus describes living water in John 7:37-39.  "On the last and greatest Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'  By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were later to receive..."
 
There is always more of the Holy Spirit—the Living Water—for us.  We are meant to bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth.  This is only possible if we daily invite the Holy Spirit to fill us up again.  Just as it is critical for us to continually drink water for the health of our physical bodies, it is essential for us to welcome the increase of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual bodies so that we overflow with His Presence.
 
When we are filled to overflowing with Living Water we will shine like the stones bathed in the water and attract the attention of those around us.  In this way, we truly shine forth the glory of Jesus to a world that is in desperate need of Him.  Please pray with me:  Holy Spirit filled me up again with the fullness of your Presence so that I glisten with the glory of Jesus and bring others to You.