Taking It to Work:
We have a blessing cup at home that still gets used on special occasions. I’m not sure when we got it, but for many years it would be used to celebrate special occasions in our home. Sometimes for birthdays, sometimes for Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas dinner. We usually put carbonated grape juice in it, as our table usually had a good deal of kids, and we would pray a prayer of thanksgiving and pass it around and we would all take a sip of its special contents. That may seem weird in a post-Covid world, but it’s what we did, and to my knowledge no one got sick because of it.
It’s not really a fancy cup, and now it is old and chipped in many places. Whenever we pulled it out, our family knew we were going to celebrate some sort of blessing from the Lord. No one looked at the chips and wear of that cup and thought we should throw it away, or have it replaced with a new, better or fancier one. In fact, I think they would have been quite upset if I did so. That cup has a special place in my family, and the many blemishes do not decrease its value.
As Christians, we know we are imperfect, but sometimes we see our imperfections so clearly, that some of us wonder why God continues to love and use us at all. Stupid mistakes, sinful behavior, bad reactions, and a host of other missteps can make us feel unworthy before our perfect Lord. Sometimes, even to the point where we think He could never use us at all.
That’s when you have to remember the “Good News”, that no matter how bruised and battered we feel, even by our own dumb choices, one visit to the Lord on our knees, confessing and truly repenting for our transgressions, brings the healing blood of His sacrifice again to wash us clean, and fill us up.
Now we may have some chips and dings from all the rough handling, but His grace is sufficient, and He still wants to use you as a vessel of blessing to others – to others who you are going to see at work very soon!
What refreshment will you take them in your chipped, earthen vessel? God would like to use you for that today. Think and pray about each face He might bring your way. What sip of blessing do they need?
Give them that sip, as His Word works through your chipped cup today.
James 3:2 (ESV) – For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
2Cor 4:7 (Amp) – But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.
1John 1:9 (ESV) – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Heb 10:14 (ESV) – For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
2Cor 12:9 (ESV) – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
Through a clay pot. Chipped and scarred of use. Never broken fully. Repaired and cleaned. Carrying within it which gives life, flavor and fills the thirsty. Through earthen vessels I bring blessing. Through jars of clay I provide that which otherwise would be lost. Imperfection is not reason to discard. Chips are expected, for impact against sin is great and often, but the vessel, formed by My hands shall prevail, used again and again, that many that thirst shall drink what is within. You are my vessel, the formed earth of My will, that you should carry within you, what cannot be carried otherwise. My Spirit. My message of invitation of forgiveness and hope to the nations. Perfection within the imperfect. Forgiven as you follow. Worn and battered, but loved and used without regard for for the wear.
