Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Repurposed

Bottles, scraps of paper, wood pieces, string, cardboard, plastic caps, and a multitude of other materials...it sounds like a list of items destined for the landfill. They served their purpose or where broken in the midst of their original intent. We live in a disposable society that embraces planned obsolescence. However, artists & art teachers can bring new life & purpose to items others would trash.  This is also why we are often thought of as "hoarders".  We have trouble throwing things away that we feel we can repurpose in a creative way.  There has been a surge in art work being created from materials washed ashore or pulled from the ocean.  The "trash" now bringing awareness to a situation that should concern us all.  The very thing that was tossed because it was used or broken now brings awareness to itself, and a desperate need to rethink items we use & how we hand them when we are finished with them.  The repurposed now has deep and meaningful purpose.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  1 Corinthians 1:27

I have spoken with so many people that feel that they can't have deep and meaningful impact for the Lord because of the life they once lived or the issues they struggle with in their day to day.  It makes me wonder what we...as believers...have perpetuated that would lead them to believe such a thing.  Have we been putting on airs that would lead them to thing we are anything other than sinners saved by grace?  Friends, we are all in need of a Savior!  God chooses to use us.  We see here in 1 Corinthians 1: 27 the truth of the matter...."But God chose the foolish things...".  It doesn't say He chose the wisest, strongest, most beautiful, wealthiest, person who has it all together.  God is about using the broken things...tossed aside...thrown away...seemingly without purpose.  He sees the potential in you to be repurposed for His glory & honor.  He can take your story of brokenness & pain, and use it to reach others who find themselves in the same place.  He can use your struggles to talk to those who felt they were unworthy of God's love and forgiveness.  He can take your greatest weakness & make it His greatest strength for you! God knows how to repurpose, and desires to use you in this amazing work He is about day in and day out.