by Barbara Latta
 |
| Broken crayons still color. |
I love the smell of a new box of crayons. It reminds me of
the first day of school when everything is new and clean. The waxy points are
sharp and the paper around the small cylinders is still intact.
Then a few weeks later the crayon box is dirty and torn, the
colors are broken, the wrappers torn away and the sharp points have worn to a
rounded nub.
But you know what I have found out?
Broken crayons still color.
You can compare the artwork created with those crayons when
they were fresh out of the box with pictures colored months later with the
broken pigments and you wouldn’t be able to tell which one was first.
The vibrant colors are still the same.
The product they produce is still the same.
The reason?
The creator of the picture is still the same.
The brokenness of our souls (mind, will and emotions) and
bodies can still affect what we do, even though we have been made new on the
inside in our spirits. If we have the image of being a broken crayon we will
feel useless and ugly.
 |
| Broken crayons or new - the creator is still the same. |
A masterpiece one of our children created from a coloring
book will stick to our refrigerator front no matter what it looks like. We are
proud of the artwork little hands drew especially for us. Thoughts of whether
the crayons they used were broken or whole never cross our minds. The colors
are still as brilliant and beautiful as the day the sharpened, glossy wax left
the box.
God uses broken people to accomplish His will. He doesn’t
throw us out because we aren’t perfect.
Adam and Eve were the first broken crayons from the perfect
box God made.
Instead of discarding His creation, the Lord drew a plan with the
colors of His hand that would expand into eternity.More broken pieces followed as their descendants failed time
and again.
Moses killed an Egyptian and later disobeyed God and wasn’t
allowed to enter the Promised Land (Exodus 2:12; Numbers 20:12).
Abraham lied about his wife twice (Genesis 12:13; 20:2).
Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps and lied about his
wife (Genesis 26:7).
Jacob deceived his brother (Genesis 27).
Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2).
Samson left the guidance of God (Judges 16).
Ruth was a worshipper of false gods (Ruth 1).
David committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11).
Solomon married heathen women and his heart turned from the
Lord (1 Kings 11).
Many other examples of frail humanity are told in the Bible.
And then there’s me.
I have failed God, my family and friends time and again in many ways.
But, thankfully, God still loves me and doesn’t throw away this broken crayon.
He still colors
with me.
 |
| God makes us like new crayons in the box. |
We were born broken because of our inherited sin nature.
Jesus was born perfect but became broken—not because of His sin, but because of
ours.
The blood of Jesus colors the palette of grace God extends
to us. While we exist in the flesh as broken crayons, we inherit the perfection
of a new box of Crayolas. Knowing God can use our frail humanity when we allow
His strength to empower us to accomplish all He has commanded us to do will
keep the image of brokenness from marring our identity.
The next time you feel like a useless, broken crayon,
remember you are in the box with all the rest of the broken colors. God uses
that rainbow to build His kingdom.
Broken crayons still color.
I always loved the blue-green crayon that reminded me of a
peacock feather. What is your favorite color? Join the conversation.
TWEETABLES
I love the smell of a new crayon box! :) One of the joys of autumn. But you're right; broken crayons still color. I thank God for his grace!
ReplyDeleteYes, me too! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming! Sub Zero, Viking refrigerator repair IN ALHAMBRA
ReplyDelete