Fill this Vessel

One of my favorite analogies in Scripture is found in II Corinthians 4:7. It reads:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

My mind's eye can truly see myself as an empty hollow earthen vessel, because honestly, I often feel this way. Fatigue, disappointments, and the continuous day to day "stuff" called life-management tends to drain me... But then, I remember my Savior. He reminds me that He is my Life Source and that He can and will do a great work in and through me.

First, He wants to fill me with Himself, the Living Water. His water, His word, does all the same things to my soul that natural water does to physical life around you and me; His word cleans, refreshes, revives and sustains me.

Then, His beauty is added to my vase. Like a Master Florist He chooses specific flowers to set within the living water. Some of these flowers have names like gentleness, compassion, forgiveness, and grace. After this, He places in the greenery and "background work" to surround and enhance the flowers. These intentionally selected pieces of beauty also have names: commitment, perseverance, faithfulness, and hope.

If I let my Master do His work, instead of the hollow emptiness I started with, I am now carrying around a treasure that is from the surpassing greatness of God. What a marvelous act of love from my personal Florist!

Friends, I pray you and I will daily allow God to fill our jars of clay with first His living water, and then His beautiful handiwork. He longs to do this for each of us, for our own well-being. But God also has a second purpose in filling us... He desires to deliver our radiantly filled earthen vessels to the door of someone who needs a reminder of His love.

Yes Lord, come fill this vessel.