The Blacksmith's Shop
by Max Lucado
In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools. There are tools on the junk pile:
outdated, broken, dull, rusty.
They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling.
There are tools on the anvil:
melted down, molten hot, moldable, changeable.
They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling.
There are tools of usefulness:
sharpened, primed, defined, mobile.
They lie ready in the blacksmith’s tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.
Some people lie useless:
lives broken, talents wasting, fires quenched, dreams dashed.
They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose.
Others lie on the anvil:
hearts open, hungry to change, wounds healing, visions clearing.
They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith’s hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called.
Others lie in their Master’s hands:
well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive.
They respond to their Master’s forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all.
We are all somewhere in the blacksmith’s shop. We are either on the scrap pile, in the Master’s hands on the anvil, or in the tool chest. (Some of us have been in all three.)
From the shelves to the workbench, from the water to the fire…I’m sure that somewhere you will see yourself.
Paul spoke of becoming “an instrument for noble purposes.” And what a becoming it is! The rubbish pile of broken tools, the anvil of recasting, the hands of the Master- it’s a simultaneously joyful and painful voyage.
And for you who make the journey—who leave the heap and enter the fire, dare to be pounded on God’s anvil, and doggedly seek to discover your own purpose—take courage, for you await the privilege of being called “God’s chosen instruments.”
My grandfather was a blacksmith. I plan on sharing this with my cousins. Thanks you for sharing it with me.
Hi Sally,
Growing up in Arizona with horses, I always enjoyed watching the blacksmith do the horse shoeing. A neat career.
Kent
Hello,
My grandfather was also a blacksmith and he made several home items, jewelery, another anvil, etc. that will be passed down through our subsequent generations as a legacy of his trade.
That is my prayer, that I will live & leave a legacy unto the Lord, for my family to follow. For nothing else matters but the life we live for the Lord. When He is in control then our priorities are set and met to effectively touch others in our lives for Him.
God Bless
That is a powerful analogy. I will be reading this one more than once!
This is so beautiful, eloquent and touchy. It really stroke a nerve and may me think what type of tool I am but most importantly which one I aim and want to be. This is one to pass around for sure. God bless us all!
This analogy spoke to me. I feel I’m am going through the wonderful transformation of a useless broken tool with my dreams dashed and little hope into one which is hungry for change and welcoming my hardships as my pathway to peace, and finally with wounds healed into a tool for Him, ready to help others through the same transformation. Thank you! It’s little reminders like the daily scriptures and weekend devotionals that help keep me on the path!
Although the ‘blacksmith parable’ may sound good, the picture of taking a pounding to change may scare a few. However, the ‘peace that passes all understanding’ will be there during such times(courtesy:The Holy Spirit) and it is this peace that takes away the pain of change.
Muito bom mesmo, adorei a forma que foi escrito