Who wants to drink from the Poop bucket?
“But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:19-21 – NLT
It was late and it was dark and the stars were out. I was out on the patio waiting for the dogs to do their business before bedtime. I sat down in our outdoor lounge chair and leaned back to enjoy the view of the Big Dipper. The air was soft and warm and scented…what was that scent? Sniff, yuck. Hmmm cows? Sniff, no not cows…wow that’s really strong. Wow that’s a strong poop smell. Just then I remembered that We had had company, our daughter and kids had come over to pick raspberries so I spent a few minutes scooping up dog poop and put it into a bucket. After I cleared the yard I had set the bucket down and then got distracted. The poop filled bucket was now just a few feet from chair. That is what was scenting the air.
So the stars would have to wait while I dumped the poop and put the bucket away. As I dumped the bucket out I was reminded of verses I had just read, the ones quoted above. I felt like God was trying to show me something. He asked if I’d like to get a drink. If so, would I drink from the poop bucket? My answer was Yuck! No way! That thing is filthy!
Then he reminded me of the verses from 2 Timothy and he zeroed in on the last half of verse 19, “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
I heard him ask me, “how can I use you to bring refreshing pure water to thirsty people if you are treating yourself like a poop bucket? Who will drink from you? You need to be careful what you allow to be put into you…” I thought of some of my viewing choices I had made recently, and I as I write this now I’m also thinking about my choice of topics to talked about at the men’s bible study i had just attended , not bad, but not helpful, not edifying, nothing to build up our character or help us mature and make us more like Jesus.
I don’t want to be a poop bucket follower of Jesus. I want to be a sparkling clean glass, so nothing from me taints the refreshing words that pour out of me.
To answer the title question “who wants to drink from the poop bucket?” Not me. Nor do I want to be a poop bucket in the lives of others. I will strive to be more aware of what goes into me. I can choose what I watch, and what I read, and what I ruminate on.
We can use the list Paul gave us in his letter to the Philippians.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8 – NLT
Father God, keep me clean enough to use. Forgive me and wash me then fill me with the good things of you so I have enough to share. Do not let me become a poop bucket.
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