A water bearer in India had two large pots. Each one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. The water bearer walked daily from the stream to his Master's house. The cracked pot always arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his Master's house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?”
“For these past two years I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side allows water to leak out all the way back to your Master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on one side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?
“That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you've watered them.
“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my Master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”
- Author Unknown
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Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.
In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.
So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.
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Jesus used all people for the good of His will. Here are some examples of people that were used for the greatness of HIS glory.
• Abraham was old.
• Elijah was suicidal.
• Joseph was abused.
• Job went bankrupt.
• Moses had a speech problem.
• Gideon was afraid.
• Samson was a womanizer.
• Rahab was a prostitute.
• Samaritan Woman was divorced.
• Noah was a drunk.
• Jeremiah was young.
• Jacob was a cheater.
• David was a murderer.
• Jonah ran from God.
• Naomi was a widow.
• Peter denied Christ three times.
• Martha worried about everything.
• Zacchaeus was small and money-hungry.
• The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
• Paul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians before becoming one.
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Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:11-12 NLT
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
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If you have a story that you think might bless others, I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.
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