Broken Pots

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

This last week has been a struggle spiritually and emotionally and many of you have kept me in your prayers.
And for this I can’t thank you enough.
In 1994 I was put in prison in Angola where I was brutally beaten and in the end thrown off a roof and left for Dead.
A very poor family found me and brought me to their home where they mended me, fed me, and nursed me back to health.
I had truly experienced the Good Samaritan story for myself.

The woman and her husband were very kind and they had a daughter that could speak English.
As I was mending there was much pain and I remember complaining that I would not be much good…. thinking that these injuries would crippled me for life.

The daughter translated for her mother a story that has stayed with me all of these years. I pray that this will encourage someone today because it has always been a beacon of strength for me.

BROKEN POTS

” But we have this treasure in Jars of Clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7

The woman began speaking telling me of a servant and water Bearer….
In Africa. Every day for two years, this servant and water Bearer Carry these pots to her mistress’s house at the end of a trail using a pole she laid across her neck. The pot on the left of the pole was perfectly smooth and always delivered a full portion of water. The pot on the right had a crack and could only deliver half a load. The smooth part was proud of its accomplishments, doing exactly what it had been made to do, but the broken part was ashamed of its imperfection.

After two years, the broken pot spoke to the water Bearer. ” I am so ashamed and need to apologize to you,” it said. Whatever for ? ” ask the water Bearer. The broken pot replied, ” I only ever deliver half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak all the way home.
You have to do all this work, and because of my flaws, you don’t get full value for your efforts.”

Smiling, the water Bearer shook her head and said, ” as we return to the mistress’s house today, I want you to pay attention to the beautiful flowers along the side of the path.” And with pots filled to the brim, she began to walk the trail. The cracked pot noticed the sun warming the beautiful flowers on the right side of the path, which helped cheer the pot a little. But that cheer faded when they arrived at the mistress’s house and the broken pot realized it had leaked half its load once more.

Before the broken pot could apologize again,…… the water Bearer said, ” did you notice there were only flowers on your side of the path ? I have always known about the crack in you, dear pot, and I took advantage of it. I planted seeds so that every day as I walked, you would water the flowers. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my Mistresses table. Without your Brokenness, she would not have this beauty to Grace her home. “

We all have Brokenness in our lives, whether because of sin or circumstances, but this need not shame us. Jeremiah 18 verse 6 says,
” Like clay in the hand of the Potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. ” Messiah longs to mold us and mend us if we will be soft in His hand, and while Brokenness should drive us to repentance when needed, it is often out of our Brokenness that we are most able to point other broken people to the beauty and life of Messiah Yeshua.

Let this be our prayer today….
Heavenly Father thank You for the ways You are mending me, but even in my Brokenness, may my life be a witness to the fact that You have made us, loved us and want to redeem us for Yourself.
Thank You Adonai Amein

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]