Seeking things above
  • Blog
  • Bible studies
  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact

Welcome!  I pray the words I write will encourage reflection within and deeper study of the Word of God, which is able to build us up, equipping us to be victorious as we journey through this earthly life.
 May we all earnestly seek the things above, not the things of this world. 

Keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3: 1-2

Ancient scrolls and broken jars

4/17/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Recently, I went to an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls and came away with two very valuable lessons. 


1.  A lesson about wandering 
I have always been intrigued by the ancient Jews and their constant wanderings away from God and toward foreign idols of worship.   Seeing the scrolls, and some of the foreign household idols that had been excavated,  gave me new insight and compassion for the Jews of the Old Testament.   As I wandered through the exhibit,   I felt as if I was entering their world.  I was immersed in a world of scrolls, and artifacts and descriptions of life in ancient times.   As I  studied the scrolls and observed many of the excavated items found in the caves of Qumran, near the Dead Sea,  a clear picture was forming in my mind.   I have been too critical of the ancient Jews, judging them too harshly for their constant turning from God, to pagan idols of worship.  I knew that they didn't have the word to read for themselves,  as we do today, and that their source of knowing and understanding God came only from oral tradition, spoken from prophets or priests or patriarchs.  I knew that they often lived in fear of foreign rulers.  And yet, I judged them harshly, I shook my head at them...how could they repeatedly turn from God?  

 Looking at the scrolls, and seeing the displays of how they lived, I began to understand.  The picture that was unveiling in my mind was of myself.  I saw myself as one of them.  If I had to depend on someone else to tell me what God said, or who He really was, would I be faithful?  If I had the fear of and the need for the favor of the foreign rulers, would I still worship my God?  And isn't that so many of us today?    We still depend on someone else to tell us what God says,  the preacher, the teacher, the self-help spiritual book, (or blog!).   We don't spend enough time with God, by ourselves, in His word, and in earnest heartfelt prayer.  So we end up wandering away from Him, into the world, and we become complacent ~ a bit ambivalent about God in our everyday life.  Eventually, that leads us to being  fearful ~ a state opposite of trust.  We become fearful of any number of things,  in particular what others think, and we find ourselves living for the favor or approval of others.  And so our hearts wander and seek other 'idols' to give of our time, energy, and yes - even- worship too. 


So, we are really no different from the Jews, who wandered and turned from God, time after time after time.  And yet He did not give up on them, ever!  He was hurt, disappointed, sometimes angry, but He never gave up on them.  And He never gives up on us today!  Through the times we wander and don't spent time with HIM ( not talking about going to church) , I am talking about ONE on ONE, time with our God.    He doesn't give up on us when we turn to other things to 'worship',  giving far too much time, attention and energy to that 'thing'  that is at the center of our life.  And He doesn't give up on us when we judge one another   too harshly, looking with distain upon others,  seeing ourselves as the 'chosen' people today, which brings me to the 2nd lesson.


2.     A lesson about being broken and chosen 

Picture
I saw hundreds  of broken jars at the exhibit.   All different sizes and shapes.  Each created for a different purpose.  Some to hold anointing oil, some for water, some to hold grain.  Some with lids, some with tiny little openings, some with wide openings.  Some to pour, some to store.  All were crafted by the potter for a distinct and unique purpose. But all had one thing in common, from the smallest, plainest, to the largest and most elaborate; they were all broken and had been pieced slowly and carefully back together.  These broken jars were now repurposed to tell a story.  And they were speaking directly to me.   Perhaps that is how we should see ourselves and each other, as broken and chosen.  Broken by our sin or pride; whatever our sin or temptation is.  And yet chosen; chosen and pursued by the Potter to be put back together, for His purpose, one painstaking piece at a time.  A vessel broken yet worthy of honor for the purpose the vessel was designed for. These clay pots,  these worthy vessels, while put back together, bore the scars of their brokenness.  Perhaps we should too.   Something that is broken is vulnerable, their flaws are there for anyone to see.   Perhaps we should confess or show our vulnerabilities to each other.   It might give confidence to another broken vessel, and it also might be  those very flaws that will keep the vessel from being too proud, too puffed up, and also keep one from too harshly judging other broken vessels.    


So let's make this personal.  

Picture
I am this broken jar.   My sin is what broke me. I was broken and pieced back together by the Master Potter.  I have a purpose, and I have a story to tell.  I am broken, yet I have been chosen.  That makes me worthy.  I am pieced together by the Savior and by the transforming power of His word.   I am a vessel worthy of a unique use, a unique purpose, that only this vessel can fill.

Picture
And you, perhaps you are this broken jar.  Your sin makes you broken.  The Savior slowly, patiently works to piece you back together.  YOU have a purpose.  YOU have a story to tell.  YOU have been chosen, and that makes you worthy.  You are a vessel worthy of use for the Master, a purpose only YOU can fill, in spite of flaws and imperfections. 







The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit opened my eyes to much more than a history lesson. We, like the Jews, can be wanderers, turning from Him.  We, like the jars of clay, can become quite broken.  Yet, in spite of our wandering, in spite of our brokenness, our sin, God never gives up on us.  He slowly lovingly pursues us, and as we allow ourselves to be molded, shaped, pieced back together by the Master Potter, we become whole, a vessel purposed for a unique use in His kingdom. 

Picture
1 Comment
Karen
4/26/2014 12:13:13 pm

Thanks for that perspective. I have been that wanderer. And I know brokenness. I am not sure if I am that jar. Too often I view myself through the world’s eyes, not God’s, unable to see what kind of jar He intended when He molding me.
Sin isn’t the only thing which has broken me. Stumbling blocks such as pride, self-reliance, fear, shame, regret, doubt, lack of trust and challenges with boundaries and communication have also caused their fair share of chips and cracks. I am learning the value of sharing my story. But still often fearful my story will damage other’s view of me. I know it has harmed my view of myself.
When I focus only on my faults, I can’t see the whole jar or purpose I am designed to fulfill. It’s when I look at the mercy, grace, forgiveness, and healing power of the Master Potter in transforming me into a complete jar, I catch a glimpse of the possibility I can serve my purpose. It is only through focusing on this repaired pot I’ll be able to see what kind of jar I am, what service I am meant to give.
Thanks again for helping me see the value of flaws and imperfections, the beauty of repairs. As well as the desire to see what kind of jar I am so I can fill that purpose.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Posted by
    Singing like a robin
    daughter of the King
    forgiven
    joyful
    soul strengthener


    Click on the RSS feed below to  have new posts sent to you.

    Categories

    All
    Christian Living
    Courage
    Danger Of Media To Youth
    Danger Of Perfectionism
    De-stressing
    Diversity In Christ
    Faith/ Trusting God
    Family/God's Family
    Forgiveness
    Friendship
    God's Grace
    Gratitude
    Hope
    Joy/happiness
    Judgements
    Kindness
    Letting Go Of The Past
    Love
    Obedience
    Parenting
    Perseverance
    Prayer And Praise
    Reading The Word Of God
    Refreshing Our Soul
    Seeking God
    Serving God & Others
    Trials And Obstacles
    Using Our Talents For God
    Wisdom

    RSS Feed

  © 2020 Robin Clifton - All Rights Reserved
  • Blog
  • Bible studies
  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact