Clay pots

Summer is rolling on hot and moist in Virginia, a good excuse to stay by the air conditioner and read a good book. For those of you who have been with me for a while, you'll notice some common themes that come out over and over in this blog: God loves us in our imperfect state (in fact, wretched would be a better adjective here). Our imperfections can be celebrated (not our sin, but our brokenness) as our ticket in: God works in our weaknesses and the Spirit's flow is quenched by our self-sufficiency.

I was at the International Christian Retail Show a few weeks ago and did an interview with a beautiful sister, Jennifer Kennedy Dean about my new book, "Domesticated Jesus." As we parted, she gave me a copy of her own book, "Life Unhindered: Five Keys to Walking In Freedom." I'd like to give you a taste, one brief passage that resonated with me:

"Imagine a clay pot. Clay pots are easily broken or cracked. they're not very sturdy. Imagine this clay pot all cracked, with pieces broken out of it. Not attractive. Not valuable. Ready for the trash heap.

"Now imagine water pouring into that clay pot. What happens? the water pours out through the broken places. If water keeps on pouring in, then water will keep on pouring out.

"If your goal was for the pot to hold the water, then it would have been a poor choice. But if your goal was for the pot to pour the water out, then you woulcn't have found a more perfect pot.

"My friend, author Diane Dike, suggests another picture with our broken, cracked clay pot. Diane suggests turning it on its side and looking inside. All dark in there. Except where the cracks and the broken places are. There the light shines through. The brokenness is where the glory can be seen.

"Is this what Paul meant when he wrote these words?

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2Corinthians 12:9-10).

"Imagine! Who could have seen it coming? When Jesus made His home in the lives of human beings, He sought out broken pots. "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).

"Do you have cracks and scars and gaping holes? You are just the kind of clay jar Jesus can pour Himself out through." (Dean, 135)

Isn't this amazing? God isn't seeking out the able, the talented or the powerful. He is seeking those who are willing to use their brokenness as an avenue to pour out his love on a thirsty world.

But we hate being broken. It's painful.

But who do you run to when you are in need of soul healing? Someone who has suffered. Someone with cracks, huh? Someone who isn't likely to judge you because of your imperfections.

This makes me want to sing, because I know just how many cracks I have!

If I let him, maybe God will shine through the cracks to provide a little light to those around me.

Thanks, Jennifer, for a great reminder!

Now, to survive the heat, fix a tall glass of iced lemonade, grab Jennifer's book, and sit in front of the air conditioner!

Harry