“I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.” Psalm 31:12
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17
I came across a story about a Japanese emperor who had broken his favourite tea bowl. He sent it to China for repairs but when it came back it was just stapled together and was very ugly looking. He was disappointed, but local craftsmen found a solution. They filled the cracks with a golden lacquer, making it more unique and valuable. It was now the emperor’s favourite bowl, and this was the beginning of a new art form, called Kintsugi, or gold splicing.
The artisan honors the article’s history by emphasizing, not hiding the breaks. Often the gold or silver paints a beautiful picture of something in nature, thus making it more precious than the original.
David knew what it was to be broken in spirit, and He was always crying out to God, to mend him, and give him the victory. He knew that in His own strength he was nothing, but that the Lord was always there waiting for him to ask for help. In spite of the faults and failures, he accomplished important things for God.
We all come to Jesus in a broken state, and that is the way He wants us to come. We realize that there are things in our life that we regret. We feel that we are of no value to ourselves or to anyone else. But the Lord looks at the cracks and disfigurement, and He sees the potential for something beautiful. He forgives our past, but He does not take our past completely away. With His love and grace, He fills in those broken places and makes us a vessel useful for His service.
Bill and Gloria Gaither expressed this so well in their song “Something Beautiful.” The words of the chorus read:
“Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life.”
This week I would like to look at some broken people in the Scriptures, and how the Lord met them, and changed their lives into something beautiful and profitable in His kingdom.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you look beyond our flaws and imperfections, and you see a vessel that you can use for your honour and glory.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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