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Rev. Jewel M. London: There is Value in the Dirt (Genesis 3:17-19)
Rev. Jewel M. London, pastoral assistant to Dr. Ralph D. West at The Church Without Walls in Houston, learned from her mother, “There is value in the dirt.” Her mother could grow just about any plant from even the smallest clipping with the help of sunlight, water and the right soil.
Dirt looks “undesirable, unless it’s in the right hands,” London said. In the right hands, like her mother’s, dirt can be useful and productive. Though human beings are dust and will return to dust, the hands of God give us dignity.
As humble dust, we are captured by sin and justify it in ourselves. London called her hearers to take responsibility for their sin, to sense conviction and to repent of it. God offers grace and redeems and restores those who do.
This sermon was delivered Mar. 2, 2022, for the Ash Wednesday noon service at The Church Without Walls.
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