The problem is that so many “vessels” are so concerned with decorating the outside of the pot that they don’t have time to take in the water that is being offered. They are more concerned with having the latest and greatest adorning their outer walls. They look good, but they are empty inside. Other “vessels” are cracked so that even if the Living Water is available and is poured in it just flows on through. They don’t pay the price to repair themselves (repent) so that they can be water-tight. Other “vessels” put on a lid so that when leaders, parents, prophets or even the Spirit try to fill the vessel with the much needed Living Water, it can’t get inside.
Remember also that the vessels were not all exactly the same size. Being hand hewn they held roughly two to three firkins each. Likewise, we do not all have the same capacity. Some of us are three-firkin vessels and some of us are two-firkin vessels. But no matter what our capacity all we need to do is what we are capable of doing. We only need to do the best WE can do not the best our neighbor can do. The Lord didn’t refuse to change a two-firkin vessel because it didn’t have as much water as a three-firkin vessel. He never expects the vessels to all hold the same amount. But that also means that all the vessels had to be filled to the brim. The three-firkin vessels couldn’t stop at two firkins and say, “But that’s all that other vessel had to do!”
The longer you think about this miracle, the more it teaches you. But the most important thing to realize is that once the Savior has changed you into something more, you become a source of living water to others. As Jesus tells us, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 14:38).
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3 comments:
I really appreciate this further insight you've shared. But especially this part: "...no matter what our capacity all we need to do is what we are capable of doing. We only need to do the best WE can do not the best our neighbor can do." Thank you for that reminder. It's so easy to be hard on ourselves when we're in the process of trying to become so much more than we already are. I'm so thankful that the Lord steps in and makes us more than we are once we've done all we're able to do. :)
Hi Sherrie,
Thank you for all your great thoughts and insights shared! You are a blessing to my life and to all who follow your blog. It was wonderful seeing you and the rest of the Stake RS Presidency at our ward RS meeting.
You are wonderful sisters--you share so much with all of us.
I love you and appreciate your friendship and your wonderful
example. Have a great week!
Excellent post. Just what I needed to hear today :)
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