Joel Emerson

Polishing Gems Joel Emerson

The Bible is like a jewelry box holding treasures of immeasurable value. For instance, John 3:16 can be compared to the hope diamond. It surpasses all others. Genealogy listings of who begat whom could be compared to mere gravel. Though maybe not life-changing, it serves its purpose. We cannot improve on God's Word (it is what it is), but God has called us to be laborers together with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9). Just like a priceless diamond simply looks like a rock until it is shaped and put in the proper light, His Word is almost always hidden until the Holy Spirit reveals its worth, and sometimes another person can share its impact on their lives or even a looked over by most observation that puts it in a different light. Example, the shortest verse is John 11:35: "Jesus wept." My take is that He had to bring Lazarus back. I've seen many people surprised by this. A sermon is for the purpose of putting a shine on scripture, bringing out the beauty, revealing the intent of the message, making it understandable. This collection of poetry is basically quick-read minisermons given to the author by the Holy Spirit. Tertius was a scribe who wrote the Book of Romans while Paul dictated. The author's education in poetry has only come from bathroom walls and Dr. Seuss. He credits God with its entire content. The style is down-to-earth, but its message is out of this world. It is his hope that believers will gain a closer relationship with God and unbelievers will begin a journey that leaves behind all the hopelessness, misery, darkness, and suffering of the soul that accompanies life apart from God (that he has experienced firsthand) and begin a joyous walk with Jesus toward the Promised Land. He hopes it entertains you and prays that it changes you for the better.