Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:21)
Do you ever find yourself wishing you could do great things for God? Do you feel sometimes that the service you are involved in is too small, or is unimportant? In the service of the Lord, do you want to be fine china, but too often feel more like Chinet?
This is a common feeling, and one to be guarded against. We must be cautious here because it is easy for the desire to do great things to become the focus of our lives. It may even seem right, and we may justify it because our desire is to serve the Lord. But even the most worthwhile desire to do great things for God can turn to idolatry. We must never allow our desire to love and worship God and be in a loving relationship with Him to be replaced by a desire to do great things for Him. Our purpose in this world is to love God. Our service for Him is the result of this relationship.
Remember too, that it is God that determines our works of service. He is the Potter and we are His clay.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
There will be times when His plans call for us to do great things. There will be other times when His purpose calls for us to do common, menial things. Our challenge is to see both as meaningful times of service for the God we love.
Moses is an example for us. He led an entire nation out of the bondage of slavery to the borders of the Promised Land. He parted the Red Sea. He met with God on a mountain. What a thrilling life! But he also tended sheep in obscurity for forty years. I imagine he must have wondered at those times what God was doing. Had God forgotten him? No. This was part of God’s plan for him.
Jesus not only raised the dead and walked on water, but He also washed His disciples’ feet. And for Him, there was no difference, because each was done with a desire to please the Father. He put it this way in John 5:19: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
So, china or Chinette? That is for the Father to decide. We must simply decide to love Him each and every day.
Be blessed!