God's Vessel
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NKJV)
Today was one of those days when I felt completely inadequate at everything. I could not do anything right at work. I lost my patience and treated others poorly. I seemed to be totally inept at communicating or performing the simplest tasks. It seems easy to chalk today up as a wasted and failed day. At the end of the day, I am simply exhausted with the emotion of knowing my failures so acutely.
I get confused on a day like today. How can He use a bumbling, flawed person like me in these moments? My life may not feel grand or particularly impressive, and I mess up what small tasks I have. I am reminded that all God's servants have these experiences. How many times did Paul hang his head in shame realizing that sharing his opinions may have done more harm than good, feeling that he was not the man to inspire and guide the early churches? The man who wrote: "I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on man's wisdom, but on God's power." (I Corinthians 2:1, 3-5) Must have known days like today. However, it is these moments that point out our humanness that also magnify God's divine magnificence. I look, not at the clumsy person I am, but at the gracious contrast that poses compared with our all-powerful, wise God. Paul also rested in this reality when he wrote in II Corinthians 12:9, "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 about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me." In claiming to be God's vessel, that is simply and precisely what I am. He may use me in exceptional ways, or He may use my ordinariness. The fact I trust is that He uses me.
I still wonder at the offering of my inelegant life. Then I read Isak Dinesen's words:
"Pride is faith in the idea that God had when He made us. A proud man is conscious of the idea and aspires to realize it. He does not strive towards happiness or comfort, which may be irrelevant to God's idea of him. His success is the idea of God, successfully carried through, and he is in love with his destiny."
To dwell on my own inadequacies is to neglect the greater plan of my Creator. He knew me when He created me, and His grace coats my awkwardness and imperfections.
So today teaches me that the point of this day was not to highlight my human failings, but to emphasize who God is. Today was not twenty-four hours of foolish mistakes but a few more strides toward God's final plan for me. Now I am encouraged for tomorrow. Today and tomorrow do not determine the value of my life; that was determined long before today. Because of God, my life has the purpose of leading to a final destiny with Him. How good to spend the moments of the day carrying out His purpose!
Lord, thank You that your purposes and designs are grand enough to include me. I trust that You used me today, and I know You will accomplish your plans tomorrow. Thank you that, in everything, I can constantly rest in your glory and complete adequacy. Amen
Sarah Harris
Today was one of those days when I felt completely inadequate at everything. I could not do anything right at work. I lost my patience and treated others poorly. I seemed to be totally inept at communicating or performing the simplest tasks. It seems easy to chalk today up as a wasted and failed day. At the end of the day, I am simply exhausted with the emotion of knowing my failures so acutely.
I get confused on a day like today. How can He use a bumbling, flawed person like me in these moments? My life may not feel grand or particularly impressive, and I mess up what small tasks I have. I am reminded that all God's servants have these experiences. How many times did Paul hang his head in shame realizing that sharing his opinions may have done more harm than good, feeling that he was not the man to inspire and guide the early churches? The man who wrote: "I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on man's wisdom, but on God's power." (I Corinthians 2:1, 3-5) Must have known days like today. However, it is these moments that point out our humanness that also magnify God's divine magnificence. I look, not at the clumsy person I am, but at the gracious contrast that poses compared with our all-powerful, wise God. Paul also rested in this reality when he wrote in II Corinthians 12:9, "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 about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me." In claiming to be God's vessel, that is simply and precisely what I am. He may use me in exceptional ways, or He may use my ordinariness. The fact I trust is that He uses me.
I still wonder at the offering of my inelegant life. Then I read Isak Dinesen's words:
"Pride is faith in the idea that God had when He made us. A proud man is conscious of the idea and aspires to realize it. He does not strive towards happiness or comfort, which may be irrelevant to God's idea of him. His success is the idea of God, successfully carried through, and he is in love with his destiny."
To dwell on my own inadequacies is to neglect the greater plan of my Creator. He knew me when He created me, and His grace coats my awkwardness and imperfections.
So today teaches me that the point of this day was not to highlight my human failings, but to emphasize who God is. Today was not twenty-four hours of foolish mistakes but a few more strides toward God's final plan for me. Now I am encouraged for tomorrow. Today and tomorrow do not determine the value of my life; that was determined long before today. Because of God, my life has the purpose of leading to a final destiny with Him. How good to spend the moments of the day carrying out His purpose!
Lord, thank You that your purposes and designs are grand enough to include me. I trust that You used me today, and I know You will accomplish your plans tomorrow. Thank you that, in everything, I can constantly rest in your glory and complete adequacy. Amen
Sarah Harris
Labels: Sarah Harris
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4:43 AM
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