THE JARS
by Kathy Pegram

 

I want to just give to you a short story that I once came across entitled “The Jars.”

“A preacher one Sunday placed two identical jars on the table next to the pulpit. He then quoted I Samuel 16:7, 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'

'These two jars came from the same factory, were made of the same materials, and can hold the same amount. But, still, they are different,' he explained.

Then he upset one and it oozed out honey. He turned over the other, and vinegar spilled out.

You see, when a jar is upset, whatever is in it comes out. Until the jars were upset, they looked alike. The difference lay within, and could not be seen. When they were upset, their contents were revealed.

Until we are upset we put on a good front. But when we are upset, we reveal our innermost thoughts and attitudes, for 'out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.' (Luke 6:45).

The question that I have for you is, what if someone tipped you over today? What would flow out? Would you reveal the 'honey' of grace and patience, or the 'vinegar' of anger and sarcasm?” (author unknown)

May our prayer be that each of us are filled with the honey of the Holy Spirit. May what's on the inside matter way more than what is on the outside.

 

Love & Prayers,
Kathy