“GOD’S SPECIAL TREATMENT” by Karen A Roth
“A diamond in the rough, Is a diamond sure enough. And before it ever sparkled, It was made of diamond stuff.” ~Poem: A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH—Anonymous
The Hebrew definition of diamond is a gem or mineral in its purest and crystalline form. It’s considered the most valued and brilliant of all the precious stones. The diamond is remarkable for its hardness—adamant (an emblem of firmness for Jeremiah to resist adversaries of truth).
Regardless of how rough or crude the exterior appears—a diamond is still a diamond. “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 SM 16:7) God sees the ‘intent’ of man’s heart. He knows who are of His seed—“made of diamond stuff.”
Judging appearances: Pilate found Jesus innocent and following Roman custom offered to release Him during the Jewish Feast. The crowd called for Barabbas, “a thief and murderer.” Greek manuscripts interpret ‘thief’ as “one who leads an insurrection.” Israel had romanticized Barabbas as a ‘Robin Hood’ fighting against injustice.
According to a Bible commentator, “These were two men, two sons. Barabbas means ‘son of a father,’ Jesus was the Son of our heavenly Father. One was a son of Adam, the other the Son of God. One man wanted a political revolution (against Rome), the other a revolution of love filling the hearts of all men.” Israel judged the outward appearance of the two—therefore they never saw the heart of their promised Redeemer.
= GOD’S SPECIAL TREATMENT
“But someone had to find it, Or it never would be found, And someone must grind it, Or it never would be ground.” ~Poem: A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH—Anonymous
Diamonds are formed at high-temperatures and pressures occurring about 100 miles below the Earth’s surface. Deep volcanic eruptions from Earth’s inner mantle cause an upsurge of diamonds to reach the Earth’s Crust.
Malachi prophesied of us as His jewels/diamonds—“GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said, ‘They’re mine, all mine. They’ll get special treatment when I go into action. I treat them with the same consideration and kindness that parents give the child who honors them.’ (Mal 3:17 MSG)
It’s a rough road to the top. But the journey or trials we face don’t make us ‘into’ diamonds. We’re already “made of diamond stuff” and as His children, we experience God’s ‘special treatment’ to help us mature. The ‘process’ of refinement, buffing and polishing causes God’s ‘special treatment’ to perfect us. God is impressed by what we do when we are put under pressure. All progress in life/ministry happens when we are tried/tested and pass the test.
= A LUMP OF COAL
We may have heard the old aphorism that diamonds are made from a lump of coal. Although both diamonds and coal are formed from heat and pressure, there are some significant differences.
The ‘process’ in producing coal and diamonds is similar—both need heat and pressure. Coal needs less heat and pressure to form so it is found near Earth’s surface. Since diamonds require severe heat and far more direct pressure to form, they can only be found in the center of the Earth.
The end result is obviously different. Diamonds exhibit no resemblance to coal in color or hardness. A lump of coal never becomes a diamond! A diamond remains a diamond after its perfected/refined. Refining, grinding, polishing, buffing, etc. (trials) all aid in enhancing and perfect the brilliance of a diamond.
= PERFECTING BRILLIANCE
“But when it’s found and when it’s ground, And when it is burnished bright, It is a diamond sure enough, Giving off or out its light.” ~Poem: A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
Just as diamonds reflect light, we manifest God’s rays of brilliant light. Before Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, He instructed them saying, “…Freely you have received, freely give.” (MT 10:8) If they were compared to His jewels, He’d be saying, “Be like the diamond that reflects back the light it freely received.” Coal will not reflect any light and appears dark and black.
“Unto you who believe is the preciousness.” One Bible commentator suggests… “all that Jesus is before the Father has now been transferred into our account. We stand before the Father in the ‘preciousness’ of the Son. We are as precious to God as Jesus Christ is.”
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” (1 JN 2:5) The Seed of God’s Truth identifies us as His child. We communicate in His language and our obedience declares our love relationship with the Father.
Jesus “learned obedience by the things He suffered,” likewise as children of God, we receive “special treatment” and through our experiences in life, are trained to reflect His Brilliance.
= GROOMED TO SHINE
Oh, teachers of our young folk, don’t say, “I’ve had enough” ‘Cuz the worst pupil in your class, Could be a diamond in the rough. ~Poem: A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH—Anonymous
Paul wrote, “But God said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:9-10 ESV)
God planned our weaknesses, faults, or flaws and uses them for working out what is best for us. Just as a diamond is known by its flaws, we are known by our testimony. That is how we remember Simon the Leper—a leper God miraculously healed.
As beautiful as a raw diamond appears, its true beauty manifests when it is faceted and polished. Our testimony reveals the power of God. Our true beauty only fully shines forth after polishing and refinement.
Whenever we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that it is because we were measured BEFORE we were processed/tested/tried. With each trial/testing we are endowed with the anointing and ability that is equal to the task, and little-by-little the brilliance is groomed in us to shine brighter and brighter into the likeness of Christ.
= DIAMONDS
Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles…] [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. ~EPH 3:9-10 AMPC
Paul wrote that God’s “intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…” ‘The manifold wisdom of God’ is the many faceted diamonds in His Church. God’s wisdom and power is sufficient to solve every problem, neutralize every pandemic and deal with every wicked attack against His plan for the Body of Christ.
The remnant has been endowed with ‘dunamis’ power to thwart any evil force set against them. We may be shaken by a world pandemic, or unsettled by an American election…but if we come together as ‘One Nation Under God’ we will see the ‘special treatment’ of God work out His perfect plan for the Age. All hell has been discharged to attack God’s anointed… but God has released His angelic forces/army to push back the darkness and prevail against the enemy forces of evil.
God calls us His Jewels/Diamonds… and uses us to manifest His Wisdom in the Earth. The Angel of the Lord spoke, “Arise, Be Strong…the Lord is IN-TO-WIN!” God’s in control of national destinies. Thank You God for Your hand upon the Nations!
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Karen Roth is the wife of Dr. Roger Roth Sr., and a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. They are the set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin, and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”
Any questions or comments please contact them at rogerandkaren@live.com
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