Antique Dinnerware…..

Have you ever thought about the Body of Christ as a collection of antique dinnerware? Neither had I until recently. We, like most people, have a lot of old things stored away in the attic of our home. God laid upon my heart a couple of weeks ago to “clean out the attic”. I did not understand why, but it was something that I had been meaning to do for a long time. In this attic was not only the memories of our immediate family but stored there were some things belonging to my Grandmother and Father, who both passed away years ago. It was one of those things that we all do… put it out of sight and out of mind.. I’m sure most of you know what I mean! However, God had other plans for my attic and even though I did not know why it was important that I do it right then, I was obedient to God and got started.

During the process, I found some old antique dinnerware that belonged to my family. No complete sets just lots of pieces. Some had small chips and others were in perfect condition. As I washed them and began to dry them, God began to show me the pieces that I was to keep for myself. Which were very few, considering the number of pieces there. Again, in obedience to Him, I stacked the ones that were to be stored, wrapped them securely and placed them in the attic. The others, I carefully dried and stacked according to pattern on the kitchen countertop. As I continued this process, I began to wonder if the pieces had any value, other than the sentimental value that they had to me. I couldn’t seem to get the thought out of my mind. Were they of any value? When were they manufactured? It all began to swirl around in my head. So I began asking God for some direction and revelation as to why this was so important, and why right now.

As I, completed the task of going through each box and sorting the items, I decided that I would, just for curiosity sake, go on the Internet to see if I could find any information about the pieces. Bear in mind, I said for curiosity sake…no special direction from God. However, several days later, and after numerous hours of research, I was able to find out that even though there were only pieces of each pattern, most were quite old and most were of value. This one particular pattern was a rather unusual green patterned dinner plate with the picture of a small shop in the center. On a sign that hung from the shop in the picture were the words, “The Curiosity Shoppe.” Even though the pattern was not very appealing to me, I was curious about it. There were several dinner plates in this pattern, but no other pieces that matched, or so I thought. As I found out about the pieces, they were of more value that the other items which had been stored in the attic. In the group of pieces I found, there were several bread and butter plates, again in the green color but the pattern in the picture was different. The bread and butter plates had the picture of an old green clock in the center. I later found out that this was the matching pieces to the dinner plates with “The Curiosity Shoppe” pattern on them. I inquired in more detail and actually found a web site on the Internet called “The Curiosity Shoppe” which dealt in antiques. So after a couple of emails, I found out quite a bit of information about the dinnerware collection. One thing I found , which seemed very intriguing to me, was that no one anywhere had a complete set of the dinnerware. No one person had a complete set of this antique dinnerware anywhere. Several people had pieces, but I could not locate anyone, in all of my searching that had a complete set. I didn’t even know at the time why I even cared about locating someone with a complete set, but I felt driven to try.

While this was going on, I had all the pieces of antique dinnerware out on the kitchen countertop and each day ask God, “what would you have me do with these.” I called an antique dealer in the area, she came over, and told me the pieces were valuable, but that she was no longer collecting china. I went to several antique stores in our area, but nothing. I couldn’t find anyone interested in buying the pieces, so I went back to God again and ask Him for more direction. I knew He had a plan, He wanted to show me something more so I kept waiting, and seeking God’s will.

Then it happened! Like a finely crafted puzzle, it all began to come together. I had just prayed with a person when the Spirit of the Lord said, “I want you to send one of the bread and butter plates from your collection (the ones with the clock on them) to this person. I want you to write the details of what I am about to show you and send it along with the plate. Put a label on the back of the plate with the following words…”They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Teach Me Lord, Teach Me Lord, To Wait.” Needless to say, I went to the kitchen, got the plate, measured it, got dressed and went to the post office to get a box to ship it in. The postal service did not have a box the size I needed, so I immediately began telling Satan that he could not stop the work of God. I have witnessed God do so much from small, seemingly unreasonable things that I was not about to let a box interfere in His plan. As I was driving back, the plate began to be the center of my thoughts. There was such a sense of urgency in my spirit that I could hardly wait to get home and get the plate packaged. As soon as I got home, the Lord began showing me the following….

Antique dinnerware is like the Body of Christ. Some pieces are more attractive than others are, and some have blemishes, cracks, and chips. Some pieces get lost as they get older. Some are broken beyond repair or are destroyed. Of the ones that survive, they are usually worn from wear and passed on from generation to generation. Especially the valuable pieces. The next generation, unaware of the value, places them in storage, not to be used for years. Sometimes the pieces are put on display and talked about by all for their beauty or unique pattern. Others, are put up for sale to the highest bidder, and others just lost in the shuffle of life, never to find their way back to the set.

Each piece of an antique dinnerware collection is very important and valuable. You must have all the pieces to have a complete or whole set. If you are a collector, you will do all you can to locate each piece missing from your set, and pay whatever the cost, to get your set complete. You will go to great lengths and will accept the pieces you find, regardless of the cracks, chips or blemishes. It is more important to you to have the set complete, that to be concerned with flaws. And oh what a glorious time, when as the collector, you get your set complete. Each piece is carefully put in it’s place and combined with the other pieces makes each piece of more value. Why, because it is part of the “complete set” and each piece, even though alone has value, is more valuable, to the collector, when all the pieces are together in the pattern.

This was such an awesome revelation… why you ask? It was God’s way of giving me a visual example of His perspective on the Body of Christ. The focus was found in Ephesians 4… “the Unity in the Spirit”. You see, what God was showing me through some old antique dinnerware, was that the Body of Christ is the same as the antique dinnerware. Each piece has a specific purposes and function. Each piece has a unique appeal and has value. When someone interested in having a set complete collects each piece of the dinnerware, it becomes of greatest value. Then and only then can the complete set fulfill the manufacturer’s original plan. The collector will go to any cost to complete the set and see it fulfill the purpose it was made for.

Just like the antique dinnerware, we have our greatest value when we allow the Master to put us together with other pieces to complete the set. Alone, we are very special. Alone we are very valuable. Alone we tend to put ourselves on display, and discuss our attributes instead of focusing on the whole set. Alone we get cracked, chipped, and broken. Alone we can put ourselves in boxes and in storage areas never to be used for the purpose of our Creator. Alone we look so unique, but alone we cannot accomplish our purpose. Just like “The Curiosity Shoppe” collection, each piece does not even have to look-alike to be part of the “complete set”. Like with this pattern, each piece is uniquely different but when put alongside the other pieces, it makes a very beautiful “complete service”!

Won’t you think about this antique dinnerware collection and allow the Master to make you a part of the “complete set” designed by the Creator, for a specific purpose. Just like with dinnerware, each piece has a specific function and only when working together in agreement with the other pieces of the collection, is the purpose of the Creator served!

Read Ephesians 4… “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all…. And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers; FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” In Jesus Name… Amen!

The Curiosity Shoppe Bread & Butter Plate