Broken Vessels

Here’s part 2 from my devotional time up in Vail. 

(If you would like to read Part 1 from IG, you can go to the bottom of this post, where I’ve added it)

Like I mentioned yesterday, I was by the little river in the photo above and starting in 2 books of the Bible that day: Psalms and 1 Corinthians. I’ve read through both several times in my life, but it’s such a blessing that the Lord gives you fresh wisdom & insight each time. That’s one of the things I love about the Bible... it is always ALIVE! 

What blessed me that day was this:

Something in verse 16 of 1 Corinthians that I had never stopped to see before surprised me...  Paul couldn’t remember everything... in fact, I think he may have been forgetful! 

1 Corinthians 1:16 eludes to this: “(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)” The NIV version even says “I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else…”

I don’t know about you, but I’m terribly forgetful... it’s so bad, I’ve made BIG blunders, hurt feelings because of it & have had nightmares of having Alzheimer’s.  It’s so bad, it’s a joke around my house that I haven’t had my walnuts if I don’t remember something my kids tell me I should remember... 🙄

So this verse struck a deep place in me and gives me so much joy to hear… BECAUSE God used Paul mightily, with flaws and all! Regardless of his failures, past mistakes, (and we know he made BIG ones) his forgetfulness and whatever else that made him a broken vessel, the Lord worked through his life. See, we don’t have to be perfect to be a vessel for the Lord. We ALL can be a light and encouragement in this dark world... we just need to be willing!

Here’s a couple verses that speak to this as well. I know we’ve all been told many times these principles, but sometimes we need to be reminded, right?

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said “Can I not do with you, Isreal, as this potter does?”declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.” .. Jeremiah 18:1-6

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

I guess what blessed me here was the realization that we all have flaws. And most likely those flaws ARE going to get us into trouble at some point. What I think this original verse in 1 Corinthians reminded me at that moment (and I’m so thankful I wrote it down & I want to remind you right now to write things down so you can be reminded again and again too…) is that EVEN IN our failures and imperfect lives, the Lord is working things out and showing us that it’s really more about Him and so much less about us.

If we get out of the way of ourselves, ( i.e. don’t get hung up on our past mistakes or flaws… ) and let the Lord work and mold our lives, it’s going to be ok.

Better than ok actually!

Because we are free to walk forward in FAITH, without FEAR and know that He is working things our for our good and His glory!

I hope this blesses someone today.

Hugs,

Laura McCollough

Part 1 is below… and there actually is a Part 3 I will post later this week.

Here is Part 1 from Sunday’s IG post:

Up in Vail, I love finding a spot by the river to do my devotions early in the morning before everyone else is awake.  I had started reading 1 Corinthians and going through Psalms again that morning as I was sitting by the little stream of water that runs through the village. Hearing the birds, seeing the tall pine trees and the sound of the water as I read God’s Word truly gave me “peace like a river.”

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 

The righteous person loves and studies God’s Word daily and the wicked person hates it. How much more evident is this than in our lifetime. Good is evil and evil is good, just turn on the news or go on social media and see it everywhere.  It’s overwhelming.

Which is why this reminder in Psalm 1 is such a blessing right now!

Here’s what blessed means:  To enjoy God’s special favor & grace.

“Blessed is the man who walks NOT in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; BUT his delight is in the law of the Lord...”

Do you see the blessings in this way of living your life? 

He is like a tree, planted by streams of water.  

• He yields fruit in its season

• His leafs do not wither

• He prospers in all that he does

What an beautiful encouragement! What a picture of growth! 

As I sat by the stream in this photo and looked up at those tall trees planted firmly by the river, I was so encouraged to be in God’s Word! To hear those verses at that exact moment and know my savior was lovingly whispering to me that He is in control... and just to sit at His feet for council. What an amazing reminder to my own heart and yours...

That is where we will be blessed and grow stronger friends! That is where the peace like a river flows... 

Join me at the river today?