For those who have visited Japan and stayed in a traditional hotel, you’ve likely worn the yukata – a light robe provided in your room. After wrapping the yukata around yourself, you secure it with a sash called an obi. This obican be incredibly beautiful, especially when worn with a formal kimono, Japan’s traditional attire.
In the book of Jeremiah, God gave the prophet a peculiar command: He told Jeremiah to buy a linen sash and wear it around his waist. After some time, God told him to take the sash and hide it in a crevice among the rocks. When Jeremiah later retrieved it, the sash was ruined – spoiled and useless (Jeremiah 13).
Who in their right mind would hide a beautiful sash in the dirt? And yet, isn’t that exactly what we sometimes do as God’s children? God desires for us to be like a beautiful sash – wrapped around Him, close to His heart, reflecting His glory and honour.
“For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honour. But they have not listened.” (Jeremiah 13:11, NIV).
Today, let’s not bury our gifts, talents, resources, or even our hearts in the dirt of distraction, fear, or indifference. Instead, let us bring all we have to God – cling to Him, walk closely with Him, and reflect His beauty and glory.
So when others look at our lives, they might say, “What a beautiful sash!”
Stephan Smithdorff
