Hidden Crystals

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:27; 1 Samuel 16:6-13

Rayna watched as Mrs. Martínez held up an ugly, rough stone for her science class to see. “This looks like a dull, boring rock, doesn’t it?” Then she turned it around. The rock had been cut open, and the class could see beautiful sparkling crystals on the inside. “This kind of stone is called a geode,” said Mrs. Martínez, “and I have a small piece of a geode for each one of you.” She handed a box to a boy in the front row. “When the box comes to you, pick one out.”

Rayna was delighted—this would make a nice addition to her rock collection. She selected one of the pieces, then turned and handed the box to Claire, who sat behind her. She quickly glanced at Claire’s big, crooked teeth and frizzy brown hair before turning back around. Claire went to Rayna’s church, but Rayna had never been interested in getting to know her.

As Rayna ran down the school steps at the end of the day, someone bumped her. Books tumbled down the stairs and papers scattered everywhere. The person who collided with her didn’t even stop, and neither did several other kids who were leaving.

Rayna bent to pick up her trampled belongings. “Here, let me help you,” a voice said behind her. Rayna looked up to see Claire kneeling beside her, gathering loose papers.

“Thanks,” said Rayna. She was so surprised she couldn’t think of anything else to say as they gathered the rest of her things.

“Oh! Here’s your stone!” Claire picked up the piece of geode from the bottom step and handed it to Rayna. “I like rocks. They’re interesting, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I like them too,” Rayna replied, taking the stone. As she looked at Claire, a thought struck her. People can be like geodes—not very pretty on the outside, but that’s not important. All those crystals hidden inside geodes are what make them so beautiful. That must be how God sees Claire—she’s beautiful because she loves Jesus. And that’s how I need to see her too.

Rayna smiled at Claire. “Would you like to come over and see my rock collection?” she asked.

Claire’s face lit up with a smile. “That’d be great!” – Jane K. Chase

How About You?

Do you choose your friends by the way they look? Do you ignore people considered to be unattractive or unpopular? God sees every person as someone He made in His image, and He values what’s in a person’s heart—whether they’ve been made clean and beautiful by Jesus—the most. So don’t judge others by what’s on the outside. Instead, show Jesus’ love to everyone around you.

Today’s Key Verse:
John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t judge others by appearance