While attending a friend’s outdoor 60th birthday party, I was drawn to a weathered coffee pot. It looked like one you would use while camping and the striking blue color caught my eye. The exterior was less than perfect and could no longer serve its intended purpose. It had certainly seen better days and been around the campfire more than once. The exterior displayed signs of use, abuse and age. To the average person this vessel might appear worthless; a relic of little value. But take another look.

The handle and pouring spout are still intact; the lid still opens. Sure, there are areas where rust has penetrated the interior, but other areas that indicate, in times past, this vessel had a purpose. I couldn’t help but wonder what memories, history and campfire stories were hidden within this imperfect vessel.

I believe I was drawn to this pot because it reflected my own imperfections, flaws and lack of worth. My friend saw value in this pot and prominently displayed it a beautiful flower garden. It had been transformed into a thing of beauty, by the loving care of a master gardener who saw worth and value in an imperfect vessel.

That is how God sees us.  He has a plan to repurpose our broken, imperfect life into something of value. When God fastens His hands around the handle, opens the lid and breathes life into our innermost being, we become a new vessel.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

And when the contents are poured out, we find ourselves clothed in God’s righteousness. A vessel transformed by grace with an expensive price tag; the blood of Christ.