Mugs
At home we have a variety of mugs, and there is a story behind each one of them…
The oldest mug is a small child’s one, with my name on. I don’t remember where it came from, but it was from this little mug I had my first cup of tea!
I have a Disney mug, that dates from 1992 when two of my friends went over to France, as labourers, working to construct Disneyland Paris. They very kindly bought me back this mug.
We have two mugs remaining from a 4-piece crockery set, we bought when we got married. They were the first mugs we drank out, of as Mr & Mrs!
My current favourite mug has 50 ‘iconic’ images from different movies, from which you have to identify the film (i.e. a box of chocolates from ‘Forrest Gump’). The answers are on the bottom, so I have to finish the drink before checking.
Such a variety of mugs, each unique, full of history and memories. They are all used for the same purpose: to act as a container for a drink. I could use anyone of them to hold my tea or coffee.
I recently read in the Bible, of some other kind of containers that were filled with something…
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
This was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Corinth in his second letter to them. He was explaining about the presence of God in them.
The container was not the important thing here. It was what was inside that made the difference, and that was God’s power and presence.
It was God in them that brought about live changing transformation and worked through them into other people, bringing hope, healing and freedom.
We are containers too, just like our mugs. We are unique and varied, but it’s God in us that makes all the difference.
Here’s the thing: it’s not how we view ourselves or what we may have done in the past that determines whether we can be full of God or not. You and I are simply the vessels.
As a Christian I know that God is in me. It’s His presence that continues to change me from the inside out and His power in me, enables me to live for Him.
I’ll drink, a cup of tea, to that… but which mug should I use?
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader