“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (2 Tim. 2:21 ESV)

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 ESV)

I was talking to my friend Tammy yesterday evening. She told me a story of a mini vision she had. I probably won’t get it exactly right but here it is.

She was running the overhead projector at church one Sunday. They were singing about the potter and the clay. Here are some of the words:

“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.”

She said she asked God to make her a tea cup. God wanted her to be a coffee cup.

Here’s the reasoning behind that. A tea cup is delicate and set on a shelf, rarely used, and collecting dust.

A coffee cup is built to be sturdy, carried from place to place all day, being used.

I got to thinking about that. A tea cup is pretty but it is delicate. Whereas a coffee cup, or mug, is sturdy and built to be used. I can picture a pretty little tea cup on the shelf. And then I see a coffee cup, maybe a little worse for the wear after so much use.

Then I wondered which I would prefer to be, a delicate little tea cup or a sturdy coffee cup?

I want to be the coffee cup. I may be a little battered around the edges but built to work.

I want to spend my time serving my God. I want to be used of him daily. I want to be a joy to my Father.

So which are you? A little delicate tea cup on the shelf collecting dust? Or the sturdy, strong coffee cup ready to do the work of your heavenly Father?

Kathy Keller