"For thus says the LORD of hosts ... concerning the remainder of the vessels that remain in this city ... 'They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them,' says the LORD. 'Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.' "
~ Jeremiah 27:19,22 (NKJV)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed—
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NKJV)
The sacred vessels originally crafted for the Lord's service were defiled by idol worship, right in the Lord's temple. So the Lord did the unthinkable. He sent those set-apart-to-Him vessels into a pagan nation, until seventy years passed and the Lord restored them to His temple.
Don't we always hold just a little more dear those things once lost to us after they've been restored?
My friend Billy Coffey wrote yesterday of his come-to-Jesus moment. After a season in his life he thought excellent, Billy sunk to the place where he sought to destroy his own life. God spoke, and restored Billy's life to him through Jesus Christ—making his life far more precious than when he believed it happy.
Such is life for a vessel the Lord jealously wants for Himself—the scarred and defiled vessel He's been allowed to restore as purified and precious, now fit to hold the treasure of Himself. He'll do whatever it takes to create such a vessel.
When we are hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down, we are also not crushed, not in despair, not forsaken—and never destroyed. In these hours we are being made fit to manifest the life of Jesus as restored vessels.
My Lord and my God, thank You for preserving the lives of those You've appointed to life. Thank You for the testimonies of those who hear Your voice in a critical moment. Thank You for the work You do in each of us to create a vessel worthy to manifest Divinity.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Thank you for your kind and sweet words. You splashed me today. I was a bit hesitant to post, but simply wanted my heart, my words, even my tantrums to bring Him glory!
ReplyDeleteAnd Isaiah 40:11, my absolute favorite clinging verse!
Resting in His goodness,
Sarah Dawn
Such a beautiful post, Anne. And you describe me oh-so-well: scarred and damaged, then restored and purified.
ReplyDeleteI've always said that an old house, lovingly restored, is a far greater marvel than a brand-spanking new house on a hill. The old house has character. May I reflect HIS character more and more, as He lovingly continues restoring me.
Such lovely words from a beautiful heart. I love you my friend.
ReplyDeleteSarah Dawn, whether we call them pity parties, tantrums, or something else, I'm glad our God is so powerful and so loving that He uses even them for our good. His way of bringing out what needs to be dealt with I guess.
ReplyDeleteJulie, there is indeed beauty in character, as well as, I think, greater depth sometimes.
Denise, if you see a beautiful heart it's because it takes one to know one.