Saturday, October 12, 2013

A Choice Vessel

This afternoon I was out walking and just talking with the Lord.  I have been praying a lot for direction in what His call is for my life.  I read a book recently that said we should think of ourselves like "extra's" in God's movie.  The movie is NOT about us.  Many of us live like it is. . . just like the "extra's" in a movie feel they are big and important.  BUT, as extra's in God's movie, it's all about HIM.  It's our job to point to HIM, to lift HIM up, not to try and make things about us.  So as I was out walking I pondered what He has for me to do.  I thought of a ceramic mug.  It's only a vessel that holds something else.  Coffee, tea, hot-chocolate, etc.  (In my house it holds coffee!) The ceramic mug isn't really important, it's what the vessel holds.

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

In our house we probably have at least 30 coffee mugs.  Everyday, however, I chose one of two mugs to drink out of.  These are my two favorite mugs ("vessels")  to use.  In fact, if both of these mugs are dirty, I will stop to clean one of them rather than use anything else.  Why do I like these two the most?  Well in thinking about it:

#1- they have the thickest ceramic so the coffee stays HOT much longer
#2- the thickness gives it a sturdy and "lasting" feel (not easily broken)

As I pondered this on my walk today I told the Lord, "I want to be on of Your chosen vessels.  The one You will "cleanse" in order to use.  The on that burns HOT and is steadfast and hard to break." 
I want to be the vessel the Lord wants to reach for each day.  I want to be poured into and poured out of daily, not to sit on a shelf collecting dust.

The other thing about these two coffee mugs is that neither of them are the most "glamorous" mug that we own. So really this shows me again, just like the movie analogy, that our life is not about us!  The purpose of the mug (vessel) is to serve/contain the substance that people drink.  It's not about the mug it's about the coffee. . .it's not about us it's about God.

I know this is simple, but I hope that you also would desire to be a Chosen Vessel for the King.  A vessel that His hand reaches for daily.  A vessel that remains hot and is useful for the Master purpose.