Daily Devotional
March 20, 2026
“You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? Romans 9:19-21
Let me tell you a story:
In the house of a rich man, there were many beautiful things: fine furniture, golden rings, silver utensils, copper pots, fine clothes, and many costly things to eat. And they all felt very proud of themselves - especially the fine porcelain wine goblet from which the master drank very expensive wines that came from the ends of the earth. Each one of the treasures argued over who was the best.
“I am the greatest,” said the velvet couch. “Upon me our master sits to rest and entertains our mistress.”
“No,” sang the golden rings in unison. “We make his fingers shine! See how we sparkle in the light.”
“Not even close,” said the finest suit of clothes … all velvet and satin. “For I cover his body and make him oh so stylish. Without me, the world would see all our master’s imperfections.”
At that moment the sheets of white satin spoke out. “We give him the greatest rest and help him to dream the sweetest dreams.”
As they argued the wine goblet finally spoke, for he was wisest and was the greatest of all treasures, for in him could be found the choicest of wines that filled the master with delight and merriment.
“I am the greatest, the most stupendous, the most elegant of all. See my lovely stem … delicate yet sturdy, my generous bowl … not too thick nor too thin. Oh, how I receive our master’s lips like a kiss. See how I sparkle and see when the priest comes how he uses me to give our master, MY MASTER, the blood of Christ.” I am almost a god myself.”
About this time the lowly chamber pot spoke up.
“What about me,” asked the chamber pot hesitantly.
At this, all the fine things laughed.
“You?,” said the couch. “You are hard and cold as a rock, not soft like me.”
“You have to be kidding,” sang the rings … in rather nice harmony. “Who sees him using you?”
At this moment, all of the master’s fine clothes spoke. “You, the chamber pot? You disgusting thing. We hide his dishonor, but you receive it.”
As they derided the lovely chamber pot, the wine goblet spoke up, for as I said, he was the wisest of all.
“Friends, let us not think so highly of ourselves, in comparison to our brother the chamber pot. You, couch! Would you prefer our master sit upon you and relieve himself as nature calls him to do? And you, fine jewelry! Were you not five but now four? Was not one of you lost at our master’s moment of release, and since there are many of you, he finds you of so little value, he let your brother go? And what of you fine sheets? When our master needs to purge himself in the coldest of night even, does he not rise and leave your comfort and warmth without one thought, and go to our lowly brother the chamber pot? And you, fine foods! You have been making mirth and merriment at our lowly brother’s expense. When our master eats, what becomes of you.. You become a burden around his waist, at best a memory. Are you not then thrown into the waste pit after having passed through his bowels? Even, I, the great goblet, the chalice, who holds the fruits of the vine, have my place, for when my master, OUR MASTER, has drunk me dry to whom does he go? He goes to our lowly brother’s, our dishonored brother the chamber pot, where our master finds relief.”
The goblet continued.
“Have you not heard of the man who was despised by the world, who was accounted as nothing to behold, He who received the vile things of the world into himself - all the hate, murder, lust, greed, theft, lies, and so forth, so that man might be clean before God? How then can you despise our lowly brother the chamber pot? Is he not more like that man than we who think so highly of ourselves? Is he not the truest of servants who meets our master in his greatest need, in his lowest moment, where our master is so like the poorest and meanest of souls? Do not despise the lowly things dear friends and do not think of yourselves so highly, because like our friend the chamber pot, we all have our purpose and one day we will all be no more.”
The end.
Prayer: Lord God, help me to see your goodness in all things. Help me not to think of myself too highly, or to look down upon what the world calls lowly. Rather, help me to look to Christ, who was servant to all, and in whose name I pray. Amen.