Title: Imperfect Vessel used by Perfect God!

2 Samuel 11:4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

Devotion: I think it was Martin Luther who popularized the phrase, God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines. It’s a cleaver phrase that communicates the notion that God works through imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will.

If God were to use only perfect person then he will not have anyone to use because in this life there's no perfect person. The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. (Romans 3:23) Only Jesus' is perfect (1John 3:5).

Nevertheless God uses imperfect people to accomplish his work and they do it perfectly. Examples abound in the Bible. I will just list a few:

  Abraham was a liar (Gen 12:10-20; 20:1-11).

  Tamar acted as a prostitute yet she was the great granny of the Messiah Jesus (Gen 38: 13-18)

  Moses was a murderer (Exodus 2: 11-14), disobeyed God (Numbers 20: 6-11) yet he led the Israelites out of Egypt 

  David was an adulterer and murderer, (story of Bathsheba and her husband Uriah 2Samuel 11:1-17) God used him, Jesus was his grand son

  Solomon was a polygamist (1king 11:3a) and worshipped other gods 

 John and James (the sons of thunder) wanted Jesus to destroy a Samaritan city. They were rebuked by Jesus (Luke 9:51-55).

  Peter was impulsive (Matthew 16: 21-23) denied Jesus (Matthew 26:74) at the crucial time yet he worked for Jesus and saved thousands of souls

  John, the beloved has flaws twice rebuked for worshipping an angel (Rev 19:10; 22:8-9) yet he wrote the gospel of Saint John, 1,2 & 3rd John and revelation.

  I have seen and I know people who were severely criticized and nearly driven from the church because of their perceived sinful nature. Today they have changed and are working for God more than the critics. 

I am far from being perfect, I have stumbled and risen many times but God's grace keeps me working for Him by writing(makes me to study the word of God daily) and sharing this devotional to hundreds of people in all continents. 

 What is important is your ability to recognise when you stumble and beg for forgiveness. This is not to say you should sin regularly, NO, (Romans 6: 1-2) but if you fall into sin ask for forgiveness and do not commit the sin again. God calls us to leave behind the values and practices of this world (Rom 12:1-2), and to advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1; 1 Pet 2:2), that we might live holy lives (1 Pet 1:15-16). Yet, we still possess a sinful nature (Rom 7:18-23; 1 John 1:8), commit acts of sin (Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:10), and need to confess our sin daily to the Lord (1 John 1:9). Only His grace will make us perfect and that will be when we meet Jesus in heaven. Hallelujah.

 

Written by Dr Joel Olanrewaju, you can reach me at gbemide09@gmail.com to share your concerns and thoughts. Please feel free to share this devotional with your contacts.