The Popsicle and the Pipe Cleaner
As an artist I enjoy using odds and ends to create sculptures. Aluminum foil, thin twigs, and……pipe cleaners! Pipe cleaners are pliant. I work one into any form imaginable. I am even able to join one with other pipe cleaners. They come in a variety of color, thin or thick size and are soft to the touch. If you bend a pipe cleaner in two, it will not break, allowing itself to remain a pipe cleaner, but made into something new. 
In its own nature, a popsicle stick can be extremely purposeful,
tenacious even; but, a popsicle stick requires force to be broken. It is resistant to bend. On the other hand, while the pipe cleaner is
durable, it will also bend. The pipe cleaner
will bend towards the direction I fashion it.
Falling asleep, the Lord gave me a remarkable visual image
of a believer in Christ and a disciple in Christ, the Popsicle Stick and the Pipe
Cleaner. Christians, especially in American
congregations, too often assume a believer becomes a disciple through service to their church. The Book of Acts teaches and demonstrates to
us that a believer is transformed to disciple by considering and counting the
cost of being a follower of Christ, guided by His Holy Spirit. A disciple has let go of the human will in
exchange for God’s will and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit moves
away from the things of this world. A maturing
disciple of Christ no longer desires worldly things, ideals, nor will those effects
be missed. The desire of the heart
becomes to know, to do and be in God’s will, gladly suffering for His namesake,
for His glory.
Let us imagine a believer in Christ as the Popsicle Stick. The Popsicle Stick is a good Christian having
received Christ as Lord and Savior, most likely attends church regularly and
perhaps even be a member. The Popsicle
probably tithes and serves the church dutifully. This believer may study God’s word and attend
Sunday School and/or a bible study. The
Popsicle finds fellowship with other believers, enjoying activities as others
of the age. Reference of God might
be rare outside of church activities and unlike the Pipe Cleaner, the Popsicle
Stick will rebel at the mention of the “S” word.
The Pipe Cleaner, also having received Christ as Lord and Savior
belongs to a body of believers seeking biblical truth for daily living. The Pipe Cleaner eagerly brings
tithes to those bringing the gospel to others and offerings to whom are in need. This believer transformed to disciple through
daily study of God’s Word, seeks where God is at work in order to join
Him, and loves to speak of His goodness.
The Pipe Cleaner desires to be God-honoring in all that is said and done,
understanding the trials of this world is due to a passionate
love for Christ and His message of hope, peace and deliverance. The Pipe
Cleaner wants to fellowship with God and comprehends walking with Him requires obedience
to the “S” word.
What the Pipe Cleaner knows and the Popsicle struggles with is
this: a believer must recognize the brokenness
of heart. The Popsicle struggles with
the reality it is already broken, broken because of sin. The fight against brokenness creates a state
of being unable to bend. Whereas the
Pipe Cleaner easily bends because it knows it will not break. The Pipe Cleaner trusts God so completely it detects
it will not break as long as the Maker is transforming it to His image. Both
the Popsicle Stick and the Pipe Cleaner will hurt and stumble, but it is the
heart of the Pipe Cleaner that will yield and grow to spiritual maturity.
The Pipe Cleaner comes to a place where the “S” word is a joyous
gift to the Lord. A lifting of burden to
be delivered from. An aroma to be offered
up honoring the sacrifice of Jesus. The
Pipe Cleaner, a believer transformed to disciple, in spiritual maturity will
not resist surrendering what the
Holy Spirit reveals. This disciple will
characteristically learn to bring to the foot of the cross whatever God is requiring
and leave it there. Often I reflect on
who I am, the unbending Popsicle Stick or the Pipe Cleaner yielding to the work
of God in my life.
I find myself yielding more and more, gladly,
with less kicking and screaming; but, too many times dragging my feet. I desire to eagerly lay down all He reveals to me so that I may be in His presence more and more.
I think of Jesus in the Garden just hours before his betrayal
and brutal death. Just like us, as the
Son of Man came to a deciding moment in His life. Would He surrender His life to death on a
cross or not? Jesus asked God, more than
once, “if it be Your will, take this cup from Me”. After
that time of prayer, Jesus surrendered His will to the Father’s will, so all
mankind could be restored back to relationship with God. He, who set aside His Lordship, laid down His
life that others might live. I, in brokenness
and sin, will lay down my will that I might know Life, to glorify Him Who made me worthy of redemption.
What path will you follow?
Will you remain a believer Popsicle Stick or transform to the disciple Pipe Cleaner?
PRAY, CONSIDER, RECEIVE, SHARE
Please PRAY for the body of believers today. Pray we are able to remain strong and full of
courage to live the lives He calls us to.
Pray we remain true to the message of Jesus Christ, boldly sharing and
living out the gospel of salvation among others. Pray we not lose hope and retain the joy of
our salvation that we come to the fullness of spiritual maturity. Jesus our mediator intercedes on our behalf,
convicting; but, never forcing. Throughout our lives each of
us must come to the deciding point of taking up the cross before us, counting
the cost of discipleship. Let us live
out the gospel of Christ at all costs.
Let our choice to follow Jesus in boldness be a reminder to stop
“practicing religion” and be the “church of Philadelphia, the true church, for
His namesake, to God's glory.
Pray that the
hearts of people turn towards Christ and be guided by the Holy Spirit. The world has become more uncertain than
ever, a place where sin is now legal. We have become dangerously desensitized and no longer feel the conviction of what is exposed before us. Christians are distracted by the things this country so readily supplies and often can not be differentiated from those in the world. People go about their daily lives without
assurance, searching for comfort in a world that cannot possibly provide
it. We live in a country where churches
sit on every corner. Lexington Park
alone has nearly two dozen churches.
Bibles are sold openly and given freely.
People, churched and unchurched, know the name of Jesus Christ and far
too many have no clue to Who He is. Let
us not take that our faith for granted as we use our liberty to live out the
gospel to those around us. Opportunity
to know Christ and His word is everywhere.
Opportunity to grow deeper in faith is everywhere.
For those mature in
Christ, our confidence comes from knowing God’s redemption plan restores us
back to Him. It is there we find
ultimate peace in knowing Jesus brings salvation to all who will receive. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and
Life. Only He can reconcile our hearts back to God. Seek the
Way. Learn of Truth. Choose Life by surrendering what He requires
to be more like Him, closer to Him. Please PRAY that people
develop a hunger and thirst to seek Jesus.
Pray hearts open to hear the Good News of God's plan to
reconcile all creation back to Him through His Son Jesus Christ.
Pray for spiritual growth with the people of America, that they embrace their
faith in Jesus, fully trusting in Him. Pray
that those in Christ boldly live out their faith for others to see, a living
witness to God’s grace and mercy. May we
all not just believe in Jesus, believe Jesus; but, surrender to Him as well.
Please CONSIDER giving, through donations
or volunteer service locally within your own community, fulfilling the
Great Commission through service to the poor and neglected people of our
country and other regions worldwide.
The Mission, a local outreach has a link below for more information on
ways to partner in the community in service to Christ, for God’s glory.
RECEIVE the Lord's eternal blessing for your partnership in
whichever manner He guides you in.
Please SHARE this blog with anyone you know
who is interested in supporting and/or partnering in missions work, locally or
globally.
Our children. Biblical training, as Proverbs teaches, is the largest most critical aspect of guiding the next generation. We must equip them to recognize and withstand the blatant entrapments of Satan they are facing at a very young age.
Our senior citizens. Residing in homes, assisted living or nursing facilities, many do not have visitors and are lonely. Too many do not know Christ or have not been impacted by their faith for numerous reasons.
Our homeless. Many veterans, disabled and young people roam the streets, sleeping in tents in the parks and wooded areas. A warm meal and kind words of God's love for them soften wounded hearts.
Our lost. Unglodly activities are running rampart in our community neighborhood. Boldly entering conversations that are open doors to the gospel can change a life for eternity.
Internationals visiting the area due to work with the Patuxent Naval Base or contractors. Singles, couples and families arrive to our area on a regular basis, not knowing a sole. Foreign exchange students studying at St. Mary's College. Recently, I've been reminded the Good News is shared country to country when we open our homes and hearts to others visiting the United States, short term.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT:
The Mission (located in Great Mills, MD) go to:
http://themission01.com/
