Last night at Bible Study, we were talking again about “Kintsugi, also known as kintsukuroi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold (Wikipedia).” It is a beautiful analogy of our lives with Christ and how He uses our brokenness for His glory as we share our testimony infused with His grace.
I was pondering that picture this morning, and realized what we have been given is even more valuable than gold. He infuses us with faith, He doesn’t waste anything, and He never fails. We we really get that truth, the value He places in us can’t help but shine through.
Scars produce Faith According to the American as Academy of Dermatology Association, scars naturally form when our body heals from an injury. When we injure the deeper layers of our skin, cells make collagen to repair the wound. Because your body makes this collagen quickly, it’s thicker and less flexible than the rest of your skin. The thicker, less flexible tissue is a scar.
When our wounds were created, often times we left the infection to fester as we attempt to “heal ourself.” When we allow God to work in those wounded places, yes, those wounds get opened back up. It can be painful as He pulls out all the muck that has been festering just under the skin. He cleanses the wounds. When He is finished though His DNA is infused into the cells that are repairing our wound. Our faith is increased, because we see and know the work that God has done in our very own life. The thicker, less flexible scar protects us from the darts of the enemy that will come and try to reopen those old wounds.
“From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:17
“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16
God uses Everything -We are God’s chosen vessels. I have shared this on Facebook before, but I purchased a small Seed Spreader from a local tribal member. She explained to me that they are usually much bigger, the hole is bigger and the seed are placed inside and this tool is used to scatter the seeds for planting. Moisture gets in and some of the seeds germinate. When the season is over the pot is busted to loose the new plants that germinated. The broken pieces are ground down and used to make a new pot. I love how they didn’t waste anything, it’s a beautiful picture.
God doesn’t waste anything either. He plants seeds, and while they don’t always grow where they should, they are still available when we reach that brokenness. God is even able to use our brokenness. I love that picture and that I will have a reminder of that during this season. I don’t know what He will make out of the brokenness, but I know He will.
“And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” Jeremiah 18:4
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
He Never Fails – He is faithful to His promises. His love is unconditional. His grace is new every morning, and it empowers us to do what we can not on our own. His forgiveness is our example to extend forgiveness to others. When we allow His love, grace and forgiveness to piece us back together, those same attributes are displayed to the world around us as He shines through is. He is faithful to His children.
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17
“Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.” Psalms 89:33
“Love never fails...”. I Corinthians 13:8
Brokenness and wounds don’t have to be permanent with God. He will use our past to build our faith. He is not surprised by our brokenness, but can use every part we give to Him to help us and others. He infuses our life with His love, grace and forgiveness. He will not fail to finish what He has started. The truth is, He finished it at the cross.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Our value isn’t always seen by the world. They may see the outward brokenness, the scars, and the pain and discard us as not valuable. The truth is there is nothing that can be done to us that can change our value. There is nothing that can be said about us or to us that can change the Truth of our value to God as His children. There is nothing that we can do to change our value. Our value comes from the price that has already been paid for us. Our value comes from our Creator, our Savior, and no one and nothing can take that away.
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