Yesterday afternoon my daughters and I had the privilege to be in the company of several lovely girls and their moms for a tea party. Early this morning I was thinking again about how enjoyable the experience was, and it reminded me of the poem below, written last weekend, yet very much relating to yesterday. There were a lot of items that went into making the delightful afternoon we enjoyed with friends. There were tea cups and saucers, lace and flowers, serving tongs and stirring spoons, confetti and decorations, and the list continues. Behind the scenes, yet just as important, an army of utensils included cookie sheets and cupcake pans, cooking bowls and paring knives, and a heavy duty teapot for initially bringing the water to a simmer before pouring it into the china serving teapot. Though varied, each item was integral to the success of the occasion, and served its purpose well.
I wonder, which item would you most picture yourself as? Each person in the Master's house has been carefully crafted to effectively and joyfully serve Him. Just as a serving tray would be a poor spatula, when we look with discontent at our lot in life, we lose sight of all we can be in the Master's hands. His hands are what turn the spatula and fill the serving tray. Ultimately, all of us contribute to the glory of our Master by letting Him use us as He wills, for the splendor of His love is what created and sanctifies us.
This week, let's let Him use us in beautiful ways!
-MaryBeth Hall
For the Master
“…the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel…” – Judges 6:8
“…The Lord knoweth them that are His…If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:19-21
To challenge Israel their ways to mend.
We don’t know much about the man,
But he was ready at God’s command.
In Scripture he only shows up once,
Upstaged by an angel’s appearance
To Gideon and all that would unfold.
But let this prophet our attention hold;
In the time of Judges’ disarray
Faithful to his God he’d stayed,
Ready for when and if God chose
To use him publicly, His glory to show.
Ready to do what He commands.
Seen or unseen by other men -
It matters not. Faithfully then,
Honorably for Him, useful to be,
Obedient to serve as He bids me.
Many vessels still has without a doubt,
In a beautiful union of our will and His,
One’s used for that, another for this.
And no one can tell what all God may do
With and through His children, those such as you:
Holy and wholly prepared for good works,
Who will not their calling nor responsibilities shirk,
“Meet for the Master” as He may direct,
Serving the One Who alone can perfect.
Our part of His story may not be all clear,
But it’s all for the glory of the One we hold dear.
Ready to do what He commands.
Seen or unseen by other men -
It matters not. Faithfully then,
Honorably for Him, useful to be,
Obedient to serve as He bids me.
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