Are we usable instruments in the hand of God?

We threw out toothbrushes the other night, partly because the bristles were splayed and worn out, but mostly because they had molds growing on the bottom handle. A quick look into the cup that held the brushes gave us the culprit: stagnant water that had been there for months. Probably water that dripped down from wet toothbrushes, accumulating over a long period of time. Moldy, filthy water that contaminated anything in it, defiling these tools which we use to clean out the dirt on our teeth. Ironic how those cleaning tools were made useless once dirtied.

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Are we usable instruments in the hand of God? Are we allowing ourselves to be used by the Lord to build His kingdom? Hopefully the answer is yes to both. And yet, how can we be useful if we are not holy? If we are not clean?

Leviticus 11:44
For I, the LORD, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy.

Psalm 15:1-2
LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;

The Lord will not use defiled instruments to acomplish His work. And neither will He bless you or answer your prayers if sin blackens your heart and resides in your life. Lent is a good time to return to the Lord. Step out of that filthy moldy water that has lain stagnant for ages, return to the Lord, and be used of God.