The Cracked Pots in God's Kingdom

Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand."

2 Corinthians 4:6-8, "

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8) We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;"

Clay pots are an excellent example of a human being because if you think about it, we are not "solid" creatures. We are full of holes, pits, chips and cracks. It makes us who we are and individually made to perfection! If we were solid and unbreakable, then no light could get IN which means, if no light is able to get IN, then no light could shine OUT. Humbling thought, I would say! We would stay the same from birth to death, never changing, never growing, never being reshaped or regenerated. We would never be able to help others see what we have inside of us either. In each of our lives, no matter where this writing finds you right now, we all can look back and see how we've changed, grown and regenerated. I don't know about you, but I'm blessed to not be the person I used to be! Yet, I'm still growing, still regenerating and still changing......as I will until the day I'm called home to be with the Lord!

We're All Cracked Pots

God is the ultimate potter and yes, He has created, and molded, us exactly how He wants us to be. The word for "clay pots" is "ostrakinos" which literally means earthenware. It is representative of being frail as well and to compare the clay pot to us humans is amazingly accurate. We all are fragile. We all are full of holes, pits, chips and cracks. We all need molded, remolded and smoothed out. And we ALL need Jesus' light to shine from within! All the cracks in our clay pot of a body can be thought of as those outlets in which all the bad, old, sinful, dark things, thoughts and words can be emptied out. To be rid of all the muddy water within so the new fresh clean water can be replaced. Now think of this for just a minute or so, and realize, even though our pots are cracked, we still have the Light of Jesus in us, those of us who are born again, Christ believers, and along our paths, the light of Jesus is trickling out along each path, each road, each bump and mountain we must travel. Why is that so important? Well, if the pot wasn't cracked, it couldn't "water" any of the seeds planted along those hills and valleys. Only the cracked pots could accomplish that daunting fete! It's not so bad being a cracked pot! 

Every single one of us is flawed to some degree or another. We all have imperfections, idiosyncrasies, defects and foibles. We all fail and we all fall short of the glory of God! But that shouldn't dictate our destiny and how we can be used in His kingdom. As a reminder, even the 5 talent med were imperfect. If we are faithful and trusting of Jesus Christ, regardless of our frailties and defects, we can still be quite fruitful. God can use us to His glory no matter what! 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 tells us, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." Strong vessels hide their contents from everyone around them, but the cracked pots expose their contents, thereby shining their Light from within for all the darkness to flee! You see, the perfect pot is always proud of what it accomplishes and is not humble in its inner workings. The cracked pots are ashamed, knowing they are less than perfect and in some cases, they feel less than adequate but yet they are humbled greatly knowing they can be used anyway. 

You see, God often delights in choosing the most unlikely people to accomplish His purposes in this fallen, sinful world. I've said this before but what better types of people to witness and encourage and teach those in the world, but those that came our FROM the world, who are also broken vessels, cracked pots, but who's experienced alot of the same things everyone else is struggling with! Everyone around you may consider you the least likely job candidate, but fortunately, God works as His own employment recruiter! It doesn't matter what skills those people may think you LACK, God knows what skills He will GIVE you to accomplish the job He is just about to give you that nobody thought you'd get! That's how great our God is if you truly believe! No matter who you are, if you will yield your life over to God, you can become a wonderful vessel that God can use. If you want to become a vessel, a willing vessel, that God can use, here's a few steps to take: 
1.) ACCEPT the way God made you. How God made you is how HE wants you!
2.) Be EMPTIED of self to make room for God. The more of "you" that you try to hold onto, the less room there is for God to occupy. So, let yourself go and be emptied.
3.) Allow God to CLEANSE you even if the process is painful. And it is here that I will say that the process is often painful because we have to face things we don't want to face, deal with things we don't want to deal with and clean out the cobwebs in places we haven't disturbed for ever. But the pain goes away, the healing begins and before long, all things become new again.
4.) Be FILLED and constantly refilled with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit. A daily renewal and rejuvenation will be a constant change in your life with Jesus Christ!
5.) POUR OUT your life in ministry and others as God directs in your life. Ministry is different for all of us so don't compare what you do to the others around you. We're each equipped with special gifts and talents and led to different ministries. No matter how big or small they are to you, to God, they are ALL HUGE!!! They are ALL important in His kingdom!

A person that God chooses to use is always a cracked pot, whose life experiences create healing and blessings to be passed out to others. Everyone is seeking. Everyone is hurting. Everyone needs healing and everyone definitely needs blessed! Many of you are familiar with Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Life is filled with all kinds of manifestations and applications of Murphy's Law, around every corner, something is waiting to happen, whether on a large scale or small. And it's only humorous when you're a long way from the circumstances. In the middle of any trying circumstance, it's all too real. The hurt and pain can be very intense and overwhelming. At times, it's so much so that one can get to the point where the pressure is mounting and there seems to be absolutely no way out and you think you're going to crack. It's a very real feeling! The tragedy is that so many are doing just that, losing control, cracking up, breaking down or as an alternative, taking some type of mind-altering substance to supposedly help them cope. Well, the mind altering substance will only numb what needs to be dealt with and will find its way to the surface once the drugs wear off. It's never a good idea to numb yourself....or run. 

2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." There are two very important factors in this verse: the description of basic humanity, and the revelation of the intent of God. First and foremost, the description of basic humanity is that of a container, a vessel, a clay jar. Second, but most important is we were made to be containers of God. Cracked pots to be molded by our Father. If we were to look at ALL clay jars for dissection, we'd find they all have four commonalities:
1) They need a potter to mold them into shape. (We are made by the Master Potter!)
2) They are all made of clay. (We are made from the earth, too - Psalm 103:14, "For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.")
3)They are all designed to contain something. (So are we perfectly designed to contain Him.)
4) They are all different shapes, sizes and colors. (As are we diverse and special.) Some are thin like china-soft and delicate. Others are sun dried and easily cracked. Some are tough and resilient to almost any condition. Others are large; some small. Some are ostentatious; while others blend with their surroundings and are hardly noticed. And of course we all come in different shades as well. 

There are many references of man being human clay pots all throughout the bible and you may never have thought of it much. But this is a fundamental and essential concept of the biblical view of man. There are many fun quizzes out there asking you what kind of animal would you be, what kind of tree would you be, and even what kind of body of water would you be if you had a choice. Well, nowhere have I found a test or quiz asking what kind of "you" would you be if you had a choice. The answer is that it doesn't matter. That's right. It doesn't matter because God made you this way by the Master Potter. It's His choice, not yours. Look in the mirror. Accept the you that you see because it's the you that the Master Potter created.  Romans 9:20-21, "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21) Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" Now with this picture of a clay jar being so useful because it gives us a clear, precise picture of the second important factor: The revelation of the intent of God. 

We were made to be containers of God! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Or do you not know that your

Let His Light Shine!

body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." The glory of humanity is that we are all beautifully made to have God dwell and live within us, by His Spirit. If we contrast that with the exact opposite we have a man without God. So, if we don't have God IN us, then what are we? We're EMPTY.....an empty temple, an empty vessel. Pretty sobering thought wouldn't you agree? The world we live in today is suffering greatly and desperately of a neurosis of emptiness and loneliness! Technology has replaced human interaction and the world is further removed from communications than ever before. This eventually leads to loneliness because even though some people believe, and even argue the point, that when you text, use social media, use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you are connecting to others because there's another human being responding. But this isn't so. There may be another human being on the other side of whatever piece of technology being used, but the lack of interaction is surely breeding a generation of lonely, sad, depressed and empty people. You see, they are searching for everything in the world to fill them up and they are vacuuming up whatever someone else vomits out. Excuse the crassness but it's the best illustration of the intensity of our problems in this world! Within each of us, there is a vacuum that is God-shaped. Unfortunately, people try to vacuum up what they "feel" they need or lack or want or desire. It's worldly. This influences depression because there is a comparison to others on a whole different level than ever before. 

You see, no matter what we try to place in that vacuum, no matter how hard we try to force it to reside there, it just doesn't fit. We can't fit sex, marriage, success, education, relationships, noble causes, or a number of other "things." Why? Because our hearts are restless for Him and Him alone. He is the ONLY person that will FIT! This "filling" is called in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "a treasure..." Isn't that the most beautiful description? There is an inestimable treasure in us. US? The broken cracked pots! But what is the treasure? Colossians 1:27 reveals it. "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This treasure is so valuable, so desirable, the world will pay anything to get it. Literally. This treasure is the secret of adequacy and you can see this in all of the commercials that are lying to every one of us. They tell us if we use their products we'll be adequate, successful, beautiful, handsome, stronger, thinner, more muscles and have more things. Those advertisements will promise if we sign up for a seminar, a course, or any number of contractual obligations, that we will receive inner peace. The quest of Madison Avenue, in fact, is to make people "adequate." And does it really? Hardly!!! But adequacy is NOT a product, it's a person. It's Jesus Christ! The lost secret of humanity is Christ in you, and in me! "Containing" Jesus is what makes someone a person, a whole person. The operable word here is WHOLE! He enables us to handle all the pressures of this life, all the difficulties, and all the problems that we mistakenly believe we can't tackle, and not crack. In some ways, we might say it this way: "He adds the extra to our ordinary to make our lives extraordinary." We're all extraordinary and so are our lives, and experiences that make us who we are....individuals in Christ! The power we have may not make a big splash immediately, but this power - like the very Person it comes from - is all-surpassing. Our treasure is Jesus and His power! WE are the containers of that power!! If we rely on it, evident changes will surely mark our lives in many amazing ways. 

But why do we contain this treasure? Notice the last part of 2 Corinthians 4:7, "...to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us." Our clay, i.e., "clayness," is truly significant. If the clay shows, it will be apparent to all that this treasure and power are not from us, but from the Creator Himself: "Nothing coming from us; everything coming from God." God entrusts this secret power to  the failing, faulty, weak, broken, cracked and sinful people so it will be very clear and evident that this power does not originate from us. It originates from God alone! It's God's plan that our jar of clay would be obvious, so we shouldn't try to put on a show and fake it. Just BE the person God created us to BE. This is precisely why Christians, not all but some, consistently look bad in the media if they try to push their strengths, personality, or prowess! Let's face it, it may not be obvious to us, but it is sure is apparent to the non-Christians that we just don't have it all together. If we, then, spotlight simply our exterior accomplishments or personality, then would-be Christians won't see our message that we are trying to send. All they'll see is our jar, our clay jar. A lot of what the world sees is just that, "jarness." You see, it's what's in the jar, and the power of the Person in us, that we should want the watching world to see! That's what impresses and attracts them! This is why we all must be transparent, not judgmental people. I know this is hard to do for many of us, but it's something we all should strive for daily! We must be honest about our failures, our "clayness," so the treasure in us can be seen. Once that treasure is seen, it will be heard and received and be seen as genuine! 

Perhaps the most classic example of God using people who are far from perfect and who are cracked pots, involves the story of Samson who God continued to anoint despite his sin and weaknesses and there were many! Samson was immature, proud, and a wanton womanizer who liked to visit prostitutes. He disobeyed his parents, despised God’s calling and anointing on his life. He made many mistakes, repeatedly sinned and broke Covenant with God, but time and again Samson repented and God used him. Some have described Samson as a teenage boy who never really grew up. In the story found in Judges, we read how God consecrated Samson, set him apart at birth, to deliver Israel from the Philistines Judges 13:5, "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” 

There are actually a few story lines that come out of Samson’s life, but the one that's most commonly used is the impact of sin and how it can derail a person and squelch God’s anointing. It happens all too often! To all of us!  But even though this is absolutely true, there's also another distinct theme in Samson's story, and that's how God is willing to use sinners and imperfect people to carry out His purposes on this earth. And even though Samson was imperfect, sinful, and made many mistakes, we're told repeatedly that God’s spirit came upon Samson. In Judges 13:25, "And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." Again in Judges 14:6, "And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done." But this is the point.....God uses cracked pots! If the Lord only used perfect, sinless people, nothing would ever get done. Why? Because there are NO perfect, sinless people!!! Each of us are needed in the Kingdom to help shine our light through the cracks in our pots. Each of us carrying the Living Water in those cracked pots that trickle out along the way, water seeds that have been planted along that path. We all have cracks and we must not be afraid of the Light residing inside of us to be shone to the world who are desperately seeking to be filled with the same Light! So, don’t let your imperfections, past transgressions, and brokenness hold you back from what God wants to do in your life. Learn the lessons of Samson of how sin leads to destruction, but also learn that God is still very willing to use you. Learn from Samson to repent of those sins at every chance and every turn. 

Even as a battered vessel and a cracked pot full of chips and pits, you can reach wonderful people far and wide in a beautifully honest way. You can make someone happy. You can heal a wound. You can bring a smile to someones face. You can lift someone up. You can show kindness where hate has been dwelling. You can encourage people around you where there's been constant failings. You can use your gifts and talents to serve God.

Being clay cracked pots created by our Loving God, is a wonderful thing!!! He created us and He's mended us, patched up some of those cracks, filled in some of the pits. He's filled us with His Living Water! We are here for each other.....Let your Light shine through the cracks and let the Living Water trickle out to water some seeds.....

In closing I found a quote that I would like to share with everyone! Missionary Hudson Taylor has said, “All of God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on his being with them.” According to the Apostle Paul, God’s grace is sufficient for us because His strength works best in our weakness. AMEN!!! 

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