In 1799, 12-year-old Conrad Reed was fishing on his parents’ property in North Carolina when he found a shiny yellow rock. He showed the 17-pound item to his dad, and they used it as a doorstop. Three years later, they learned it was gold. (That’s a lot of gold.) What was once considered mundane became incredibly valuable once it was refined and used for its real purpose.

Same with you. Same with me. Too often we don’t realize our true value. We live distracted by the world and act as if our relationships, reputation, work, or appearance determine our value and purpose. That makes us about as useful for God’s kingdom as a doorstop.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Our God poured all his wrath on his only Son so that we could be called his children. Now, as he refines us through trials and joys, we are used for our real purpose: to do the good deeds he has prepared for us, all to bring him glory.