Pots
I read a devotional by Elisabeth Elliot the other day that really stuck with me. It was about pots.
She was in the mission field and somebody was teaching her about making pots. I know them as “coil” pots – you take a long “snake” of clay and coil it into a vessel, pinching and pressing so that it’s water-proof and then firing and glazing it. It doesn’t seem like it would be that difficult – but it is.
Anyway, the point is that what make the pot valuable is not what it looks like on the outside (in the context that these pots were in) – what made these pots valuable was what was inside. They were being made to transport wonderful, life-giving water.
We are like that; it is what is in us (Christ) that makes us worthy.  All by ourselves, we are not worth very much. And like pots, we sometimes become “empty”. We all know the feeling – it seems as though the demands of life have drained us dry. All we have to do is turn to the Living Water and be filled again.
We go through spiritual deserts, we are dry and thirsty and sometimes it seems as though nobody hears us. Sometimes it’s difficult to make that turn and be filled. Sometimes we don’t desire God.  What to do?
Time to turn to Scripture – cling to the promises. There have been times when I don’t doubt God, I don’t doubt His promises – I only doubt if I truly belong to Him. It is in those times that I read the desperate pleas of David and find comfort.
Sometimes I feel as though I have a great “head knowledge” but somehow my heart got left behind. I read the epistles for the heart of the Gospel.
Sometimes I just feel numb and the only thing I know is to persevere. And that’s okay, but God is faithful even when I am not.
That is what is within us. But there’s another side of the equation.
Water sitting in a pot is not very useful unless it is used. The same is true with us.
If what is within us is sweet, fresh water, the people around us will be refreshed – we are pleasant to be around and God is evident in our lives. If we allow ourselves to be bitter or sour, like bad water, that is reflected in the way we treat others.
What we fill ourselves with is what we feed others. I am mindful of that when I deal with my students, my children and others that I deal with every day.
Today I invite you to fill yourself with fresh water from the Wellspring of Life. Let Him fill you to overflowing so that you cannot help but share with others!
Thank You so much! This was exactly what I needed today. God is so Good and faithful! Thank You, I’m so glad I found this blog.
Yes Lord, fill me to overflowing, that is my prayer.
Amen…when we are changed on the inside it can’t help but show on the outside. Transformation. That water overflows to our attitudes and actions. Blessings on you…
This message is what I need to hear today. Thank you so much for this wonderful post.
Lovely post! I really like the image of filling myself to overflowing–love that!
Beautiful insight and inspiring as well. God bless you, my sister in Christ. I have came but for a thimble of encouragement but found a deep well. You bless me.