Corona Devo 1848

Isn't "vessel" a great word?  It just has a unique sound.  Vessel.

What's a "vessel"?  Well, it's a word that (mostly) means "container", such as blood vessel. Antique vessel. Sailing vessel. Cargo vessel.

And back in the Bible days, vessels were used to contain many daily things, like water, wine, and storage.

And back in the Bible days, some vessels in Bible times were made of gold or silver and used as beautiful decorative vases. They were displayed in locations of honor.  However, most (Biblical) vessels were made of clay, and they came in different sizes and shapes and they were created and made to be containers for practical, everyday purposes, and to hold things like water and wine.

But all vessels are designed to be containers for something. And what a particular vessel contained (held within) determined if that vessel was a vessel of honor or dishonor.

Did you know(?) that throughout the Bible, our lives are often compared to "vessels"? God used this term to talk about us.

Let's check out 2 Corinthians 4:6-7:

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.   

(7) We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay vessels containing this great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.  ~2 Corinthians 4:6-7

~~~

...we ourselves are like fragile clay vessels containing this great treasure.   ~2 Corinthians 4:7

God fills us: He is the  great treasure.  Or, we should know that God wants to fill us.   

Have we taken a look lately at our "vessel" and what is filling it? Let's consider our lives and what fills them. What are the contents of our life? Are we filling the "vessel" of our life with pure things? Or is it the wastewater? Does our life (and vessel) contain filth?  Are we going down the right path?

Is God's light shining in our hearts?  Are we experiencing (knowing) the glory of God in our lives?

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.   ~2 Corinthians 4:6

~~~

The Apostle Paul lived during the time of Jesus, and he wrote a lot of the Books in the New Testament of the Bible. He taught many people about Jesus and he started lots of churches. Paul is the one who spoke of our bodies as "clay vessels" in these verses. He said that we not only have the space to contain Jesus but that we NEED TO BE filling ourselves with Jesus!

Our body (and our life!) is the vessel which can house/hold the Holy Spirit living in us. The purpose of God dwelling in us is so that we might pour the love of God, the grace of God, the ‘water of life’ that is Jesus Christ...out to others.

We live in a world dying of thirst (meaning: people are searching for Jesus!)  If we know and love Jesus (and are FILLED with His Spirit), then we can be seen as an example (vessel) to others of how to be different (as Jesus was).  

But if we fill ourselves with unclean things, unholy things, and wastewater...then what are we going to pour out?

What we watch, listen to, and look at is what we will start to represent, so let’s shine the light of Jesus

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  ~John 15:5

To BE FILLED WITH HONOR and to live for Jesus, we need to:

1. Prioritize Prayer and Reading the Bible – Make a habit  or routine of daily prayer and reading God’s Word. Pray that God would use us, and know that God IS using us to shine His light.    
2. Serve Others – Let's extend the Lord's love, compassion and kindness to those around us.
3. Resist Temptations – Avoid negative influences and the world’s wastewater.  Turn away from harmful relationships and media.  
4. Dedicate Yourself to Loving God and His people– Love others as Jesus loves them.  
5. Live Out Our Faith – Share your faith and testimony with others. Not just verbally but also in how we act and how conduct ourselves.

Let’s live life for Jesus, and be a “vessel for honor"!

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. (22) Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  ~2 Timothy 2:20-22

Lord, Thank you for reminding us that You created us with a special purpose: to be a vessel for You.  Clear out and cleanse our hearts, our minds, our phones, and our lives of the things which do not honor You.  We want to be set aside as special vessels for Your Kingdom purposes and for Your honorable use, but we have to make the choice to BE that kind of vessel.  Lord, use us to bring Your love, hope and peace to a thirsty world.  We are Your vessels. Amen.

Blessings,  

sarah  

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com