- Sep 10, 2021
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Becoming A Vessel Of Honor, Part 2
In piggybacking off another thread our sister posted on this subject late last year, I wish to ask: How many of us desire to be true vessels of honor unto the Lord; beautiful vessels, which God will place on a pedestal for all to see? In order for Him to do so, we must be beautiful in Spirit both inside and out. If we allow strife and bitterness within, it is like sullying and defiling a vessel created for only the finest things. We instead must let the Holy Spirit infill us, and flow out from us at all times. For those who are willing, He will fashion them into vessels of honor, and showcase them before the church and the world.
So how is it done? Again, any defiling spirits must be kept out, especially any spirits of strife and bitterness such as arise over heated debate. We see way too much of this on the internet these days, even among Christians, and it should not be so. Paul warned Timothy about it, telling him that if those he was in charge of wanted to become vessels of honor, they would need to depart from strife and stay clean from it in the Spirit of God.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.... 20 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. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:14, 20-26)
There is a type of "youthful lust" that seeks to be heard. We seek to be seen as some great leader, some great teacher or intellect, and this was especially true in New Testament times, when the "rock stars" of the day were not musicians but philosophers and rhetoricians. But being "seen" is not good when you are constantly arguing, "refuting," and being critical of others. Such "ministry in the word" only ends up causing others to cast aside their confidence in the Christian faith, because hearing all the arguing just creates doubt in their minds. Rather, Paul said to pursue righteousness, peace and gentleness instead, and avoid strife. Certainly correction was needed sometimes, but a continual diet of criticism and accusation never ministers "grace to the hearer." Rather they were to be gentle instead of argumentative, and patient instead of insulting, critical and bitter.
This is what becoming a vessel of honor is all about. When what flows out from within is a Spirit of peace, patience, kindness and gentleness, the Lord will honor us and place us on a pedestal to be seen by all.
Blessings in Christ,
Hidden In Him
In piggybacking off another thread our sister posted on this subject late last year, I wish to ask: How many of us desire to be true vessels of honor unto the Lord; beautiful vessels, which God will place on a pedestal for all to see? In order for Him to do so, we must be beautiful in Spirit both inside and out. If we allow strife and bitterness within, it is like sullying and defiling a vessel created for only the finest things. We instead must let the Holy Spirit infill us, and flow out from us at all times. For those who are willing, He will fashion them into vessels of honor, and showcase them before the church and the world.So how is it done? Again, any defiling spirits must be kept out, especially any spirits of strife and bitterness such as arise over heated debate. We see way too much of this on the internet these days, even among Christians, and it should not be so. Paul warned Timothy about it, telling him that if those he was in charge of wanted to become vessels of honor, they would need to depart from strife and stay clean from it in the Spirit of God.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.... 20 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. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:14, 20-26)
There is a type of "youthful lust" that seeks to be heard. We seek to be seen as some great leader, some great teacher or intellect, and this was especially true in New Testament times, when the "rock stars" of the day were not musicians but philosophers and rhetoricians. But being "seen" is not good when you are constantly arguing, "refuting," and being critical of others. Such "ministry in the word" only ends up causing others to cast aside their confidence in the Christian faith, because hearing all the arguing just creates doubt in their minds. Rather, Paul said to pursue righteousness, peace and gentleness instead, and avoid strife. Certainly correction was needed sometimes, but a continual diet of criticism and accusation never ministers "grace to the hearer." Rather they were to be gentle instead of argumentative, and patient instead of insulting, critical and bitter.
This is what becoming a vessel of honor is all about. When what flows out from within is a Spirit of peace, patience, kindness and gentleness, the Lord will honor us and place us on a pedestal to be seen by all.
Blessings in Christ,
Hidden In Him
