Making Soap

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15

As happened with the writing of my blog on Mr. May, so it happened again reading this verse. Isn’t it funny how, at times, the mind travels to different memories and events. I love making this sort of connection when reading the Bible in my devotions. It puts flesh to the words.

Here’s where my mind took me.

There is a lady in our congregation that makes soap. She makes various kinds with various scents. Each of these scented soaps have their own individual coloring that make them beautiful to smell, look at, and wash with.

She, over time, has honed her soap making skills. So much so that she goes to craft fairs to sell her soaps to interested folks. She also has soap making classes. Judy went and took along one of our granddaughters. They had a good time together bonding over soap making. It was a fun experience for them both.

After Judy brought home the soap she had made, she cut the block into smaller sections to let it settle and harden. It smelled amazing when I walked near it. It actually brought a smile to my face.

The accomplishment of learning to make soap, and then being skilled enough to teach soap making, didn’t happen all by itself. She didn’t wake up one morning producing soap that would accomplish the task it was intended for. The lady in our congregation had to study to show herself approved. In other words, much effort went into learning the craft. And her hard work paid off. Others now are the benefactors of the wonderful soaps that are being produced and offered for use.

So …

I thought about all of that in relation to this verse of Scripture and what it should mean to us.

Those of us who have been saved by grace through faith, have an obligation and responsibility to be good … soap makers. We have a “product” when handled and presented skillfully has the supernatural properties to cleanse a person’s soul. It actually can scrub away the toughest sin-stains any person could ever get on themselves.

We admire and respect greatly those who have spent the time and effort to learn their craft. We go out of our way to find and acquire things that have been touched by the hands of a skilled craftsman.

Well …

What about us?

Shouldn’t we become skilled at our “craft” of “rightly dividing the Word of Truth?” Don’t we have a task that is at least as worthy as the craft of soap making?

I trow so.

If so … am I correct in assuming that the majority of God’s people don’t put in nearly the time and effort necessary to become skilled Biblicists?

Think of it this way.

The lady in our congregation would not put out for public consumption a product that was inferior due to her own ignorance. Nobody would. Anyone that feels a sense of responsibility would want to make sure they had done their due diligence to be a worthy representative of their craft.

Therefore …

We have to learn to critique ourselves in relation to our Bible efficiency just like any person would in any other important area of their lives. The soap doesn’t go out until it is worthy to be put out.

What’s important to you? What hobby do you like? What sparks you? Now compare the time and effort you put into pursuing that and … how it compares to you and your Bible.

Paul is soon to leave this world. He’s writing his last words to his beloved Timothy. And with his departure from this world, Paul feels the need to urge Timothy to be a skilled craftsman of God’s Word.

But is Paul just writing this to Timothy? No. These are Paul’s final marching orders to us as well. We have a responsibility and obligation to become skilled at our craft. We handle the Word of the living God. We aren’t just “selling” things that will help in this temporal life. We are holding forth the Word of Life that can cleanse the soul and equip a person for eternity.

Shouldn’t that stir us? Answer: Of course. Why? Because we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have that still small voice speaking inside of us drawing us to closer fellowship with our Master Potter.

It’s as simple as, and as hard as …

Are you ashamed to present your “soap” to the world for consumption? Are you “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed?” How well do you know your “product?”

Truth be told, we have no excuse for our shoddy workmanship in the area of Biblical understanding and knowledge. Just our laziness.

Let’s set our minds to be unashamed craftsmen.

Anybody got any good … soap?