It’s a well known fact that we can’t live without blood. Blood is essential for body temperature, steady supply of oxygen, for fighting off infection and various other important functions. If we didn’t have it, we’d die. Life is in the blood. We even see this in Scripture. “because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, ‘You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.” (Leviticus 17:14) Then we have blood vessels. They are what carry the blood throughout the body. By no means are they themselves of any worth if you take away their purpose. It is what’s in them, the blood, the life, which is of great value.
We had our last section devotional this past Thursday and it served as type of a “year review.” I asked questions such as “what is your favorite memory?” and “what’s an area you’ve seen God really work in you?” It blessed my heart immensely to hear about how much everyone has grown and what all God has done in and through us. I shared 2 Cor. 12:9, because God used it in my life throughout the year and it says, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” I’ve had some serious struggles this year and more insecurities than I’d ever care to admit. I’ve missed out on countless opportunities to serve those around me, times when I could have been in prayer, blessed someone, encouraged, and the list could go on forever. I’ve been tempted to compare myself, both physically and spiritually with those around me and lessening the beauty God has made in me. I’ve failed, over and over and over times some ridiculously large number. There’s been times I’ve come to God in prayer and couldn’t even bring myself to speak, because I kept thinking “I let you down, I just can’t stop letting you down.” In one of the videos that the Skit Guys made it brings up the comforting truth that I don’t hold God up. I have never, will never, can’t ever hold God up, but rather He has ALWAYS held me up. Therefore, I can’t let Him down. He loves me, even before I ever loved Him. His love for me doesn’t run out when my “righteousness” runs out or when my “energy” runs out or simply when “I” run out.
Being at a Christian College for the past two years has made me realize how I am a vessel. I’m not the life, I’m not the important element that supplies essential needs. I’m only the carrier. I have God in me! It’s my job to spread that life wherever I go. That night as I was reflecting with my girls all my weaknesses and failures, I also reflected on God’s goodness and that truth about being a vessel hit me. Who cares how much of a mess I am? I’m not the one who gives everlasting life, I’m not the Perfecter and Author of salvation. I’m just a vessel. God chooses to use me and He’s doing great works in me all the time. What a relief! I mean seriously, thank goodness that I don’t have to be perfect, cause I can’t be. I’m so thankful that God knows every flaw and still wants me to be His vessel.