Broken Pottery

Our daily reading for today is Psalm 31:6-14, but I would like to focus on verse 12 - 

"I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery."  

The first time you read this, you might think this is a bad thing.  However, becoming like broken pottery is actually beneficial.  I first made this connection when doing the Priscilla Shirer study called, "Gideon".  In it we studied Judges 7:1-25 where Gideon defeated the Midianites with only 300 men.  

Beginning at verse 16, we learn how he did it.  "Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside."  Continuing with verse 19, "Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard.  They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands."  Finishing up with verse 21 we read, "While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.  When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords."

Priscilla Shirer provided these thoughts on the broken jars. "The pitchers used by the 300 were frail.  Easily breakable.  But the weakness was not a liability; it actually made them effective.  If the pitchers were made of an indestructible substance that wouldn't shatter at once, the torches would have remained concealed.  The pitchers' frailty benefited their ultimate purpose - allowing the light to be seen.  Each vessel's true strength was displayed when it was cracked open and the light inside pierced through the darkness to shock and blind the enemy. " 

We are like the broken jars.  The weaknesses we often despise are necessary for the light of Christ to be seen and for the darkness around us to be dispelled.  This is great news!  We can be thankfull for our weaknesses because God's light and power is better demonstrated through our weaknesses!

Strength for Today

Exhausted.  Drained.  Depleted.  Any of these words describe how you are feeling?  Do you ever think, “I don’t know what to say or how to answer this person?”  Or, “I’m so exhausted myself, how am I supposed to help someone else?”  We can find some answers in our scripture reading for today.  1 Peter 4:11 says:

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ….”

Acts 7:38 tells us more about “the very words of God”:

“He (Moses) was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.”

So, Moses received living words from the Lord, which were recorded and passed on to us!  Don’t know what to say to someone?  Let’s start with the living words of God!

The next part of 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides”.  Do you sometimes feel as if you don’t have the strength to help someone else?  Correct – you don’t!  But God does!  Let’s go back to Moses for an example.  Exodus 3:10-12 says:

“So now, go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.  But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  And God said, “I will be with you.  And this will be a sign to you that it is I who have sent you:  When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

God doesn’t try to encourage Moses by listing out all the skills and abilities that Moses has.  He simply tells him, “I will be with you”.  This is great news!  It doesn’t matter that you feel ill-equipped because God is with you!  He has the strength you need!

Now fast forward to 1 Peter and we see the same message.  “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ….”

Why do we serve with strength from God?  So that He may be praised!  Amen.

1 Peter 4:1-11

You Want Me To Do ALL That?

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. -Ephesians 4:25-32

Today I have posted the entire scripture text for you to read.  The Apostle Paul is so strategic in how he instructs us, that I wanted you to see the entire picture.   This section of scripture ends with a very specific command. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”

I think as a Christian we grow accustom to reading and hearing that we should be kind and compassionate and to other and forgive.  We know it’s something we should do, and I bet many of us truly want to be able to live up to that instruction.  There are times, though that we want to yell, “It’s just not fair!”

We don’t feel that God understands the hurt. There are times that being kind and compassionate, forgiving the person who hurt you so deeply is just impossible. That is where I want to introduce this entire passage to you.  Take a look. 

Paul starts by saying,

• ·         Don’t lie, but speak truthfully.
• ·         Don’t get so angry that you sin, and if you are angry make amends quickly.
• ·         Don’t steal.  Work for what you get.
• ·         What you do work for, share with those in need.
• ·         Watch your mouth.  Don’t say hurtful, negative, slanderous things.
• ·         Don’t give credit to something else that belongs to God, that Grieves the Holy Spirit.

Lastly Paul sends out a barrage of don’ts… Get rid of ALL bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with EVERY form of malice.

I think Paul structured this passage in this way for two reasons. First, before he asks us to forgive others he reminds us of our own areas of sin.  Christ has forgiving us completely so we should forgive others.  It’s easier to show compassion when you remember the compassion that was first shown to you.

Secondly, I think Paul wants us to see the impossibility of EVERYTHING he is asking us to do if we are not connected to God.  We CAN’T walk the path of speaking truthfully, not sinning in anger, making amends, honest work, giving to those in need, positive talk, giving God glory, and everything else on our own. It does seem impossible to show kindness, compassion and forgiveness to deep hurts if we do it in our own strength.  God never intended us to do this alone.  He wants us to rely on him and his strength.

We need to be mindful of all of this, but also surrender to the One who can do this work in and through us. 

Blood Is Thicker Than Water, Genesis 14

I get a kick out of today’s passage. Two groups of allied kings fighting against each other, for fourteen years the wars rage. What are they fighting over? More than likely they fight for land, wealth, and power.

What makes me laugh is, when these unsuspecting kings raid Sodom and Gomorrah. As they seize all the goods and people Lot, Abram’s nephew, is among the captives. When Abram finds out that his flesh and blood has been taken he gathers together a little army and totally kicks butt. What the other kings couldn’t do in fourteen years Abram does in no time at all. Doesn’t that just make you chuckle?

Some have probably asked, “How did he do that?” We know how he was able to come out the victor though. We also know how he was able to, not only rescue Lot, but also every other person and thing that was taken. He did it with God.

With God absolutely EVERYTHING is possible. Do you believe that? If you struggle trusting that, tell yourself every day. When life feels hopeless or you feel alone, tell yourself. If you feel forgotten or outnumbered, remind yourself EVERYTHING is possible with God.

I’m not saying everything will work out the way we want; I am saying that nothing is too big for God. No problem to complicated or shocking. No tragedy too overwhelming. God can handle it all and he can get us through an impossible situation too.

Read the entire scripture on biblegateway.com Genesis 14