Flawed, but Valuable to God

Flawed, but Valuable to God

“the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV)

The Bible says, 'We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.' (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV) Some people don't read the Bible because they think it's all about saintly people whose lives have no bearing on reality. If you feel that way, read the book of Genesis. The dysfunctional families there will make yours seem normal! Cain was jealous of his brother Abel so he murdered him. Lamech introduced the world to polygamy. Noah, the most righteous man of his time, got drunk and cursed his children. When the men of Sodom wanted the two angels who visited Lot, in order to save himself Lot offered them sex with his daughters instead. And the Bible still refers to him as 'godly'! (2 Peter 2:7) Abraham slept with his wife's maid, got her pregnant and then banished her and her son to the wilderness because his wife Sarah complained about 'the other woman'. Jacob's firstborn son Reuben slept with one of his father's wives. The list goes on ad infinitum. The question is: why would God include this cast of characters in the Bible? To make the point that we're all flawed in some way! We like to think we're normal, but by God's definition we fall far short. We all have habits we struggle with, past mistakes we can't undo, and inherent tendencies we can't overcome without His help. God said, 'My power shows up best in weak people.' (2 Corinthians 12:9 TLB) You say, 'But shouldn't I strive to be better?' Yes, but if God only used perfect people, He would never call anyone to work with Him.

Source: The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2014, Friday 12 September 2014

****

None of us are perfect. We all have our flaws, some greater than others. God isn't looking for the perfect human being (not that He would find any), He is searching for those in greatest need - those that are flawed, those who have wandered, those who have fallen short, those that have sinned, those that have rejected Him, those who are lost, those who are struggling. 

Poet Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) was approached by an elderly man at a dinner party who asked if she was a Christian. She considered his question to be rude, unkind, and inappropriate. After the man walked away, Charlotte could not get his question out of her mind so she went to find the man, and to ask how to become a Christian.

That night she received Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour and soon thereafter she wrote the hymn Just As I Am as a testimony to her newfound faith, and as a tribute to the man who had told her that she could come to Christ, 'just as she was'. A flawed woman, far from perfect but would never be rejected. We too must do the same, if we see someone dressed immodestly, perhaps using language not to your taste, looking lost who doesn't know the Lord - remember that God won't reject them if they receive Him.  He takes us as we are and then moulds us into what He wants us to be. We are the clay and He is the potter. 

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,

Here for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come! 

Story of Charlotte Elliot is sourced from FaithShare

*****