A Vessel for Noble Purposes

"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."
II Timothy 2:20-21

On Sunday morning we talked about Paul's words to Timothy (verses 14-26) where he urged young Timothy to be a vessel with a noble purpose. But today I want to talk specifically about verses 20-21.

Father God, the Potter, sees us as vessels for a noble purpose. We are new creations according to II Corinthians 5:17. The problem comes when we don't see ourselves that way.

Our brokenness is not a challenge for God. He took care of that on the cross by the death of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what "kind" of brokenness we have--childhood abuse, sexual sin, addictions, or simply the brokenness of being born with a sinful nature--God has made provision for a remedy.

Some of us see ourselves as "more broken" than others. Our sin is too bad. Our past is too painful. Our habits are too difficult. That kind of thinking keeps us stuck and leads to an undesirable outcome.

We have an upside down view of being a noble vessel, I think. We put the cart before the horse. We intellectually know, because we've read the Bible, that we don't have to "clean up" to come to God. But some of us act like we do. Yes, we've asked Jesus into our hearts and have become a Christian, but we don't fully commit ourselves to being that noble vessel because we see ourselves as an ignoble (un-noble) vessel.

As long as we see ourselves that way, we will have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom as it were. We may feel like a phony if we live like a noble vessel, because inside we don't feel noble. We have a past. We still see ourselves as broken.

Folks, we need to see ourselves as the beautiful vessels that God created for His purposes. We need to ask God to let us see through His eyes. Then, when we have consecrated ourselves we can live like people set apart and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can live the life we have committed to live.

Thoughts? Write a comment!

Listen! Act! Walk!

On Sunday, we read the passage in Leviticus where God had Moses do what seemed to be a very strange ritual:

Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Leviticus 8:23

God does not give us any clues in that passage as to exactly why He chose that particular way of performing the consecration of Aaron and his sons. However, it is reasonable to conclude that there was a lot of symbolism involved. With our ears, we listen. With our hands we act or do. With our feet we walk or go.

So the message to Aaron and his sons (and to all of us as well) is clear. We must listen, act, and walk every minute and every day of our lives.

We must listen to what God is saying. Not just when He says what we want to hear. Not just when we find ourselves in a tight situation and need His help or guidance. Not just when we are confused. We must listen.

Isn't it interesting that God had Moses anoint Aaron's ear first? And after the ear, THEN the thumb and the big toe.

To me that suggests that we need to listen FIRST and then, and only then, will we act and go.

After we have heard God tell us what to do or where to go, then we must obey. But the listening is critical in order to do the right thing or go the right place.

Listen. Act. Walk. That pretty much sums up our entire life, doesn't it?

What are your thoughts? Talk to me!