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. 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. - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV)
Paul reveals that there can be multiple vessels in the same house. Specifically, using the description of “a great house,” he shares that there can be gold, silver, wood, and clay vessels; but he clarifies that not all of them are for honorable use. There are dishonorable vessels too. His point: it’s not enough to just be in the house – even a great house – you have to personally choose to be a vessel that brings honor to God.
He further clarifies that to encourage honor in the vessels of those following God, Timothy must remind his audience of these things, “Shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase more ungodliness. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace...avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife…a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” (2 Timothy 2:14, 16, 22-25 NKJV)
First, the things that we must move away from:
SHUN inappropriate conversations
FLEE immature lusts
AVOID arguments with irrational people
REFUSE to quarrel needlessly
Now, the things we must do:
PURSUE faith, love, and peace
BE gentle
DEVELOP the ability to share Scriptural truth
EXEMPLIFY patience
DISPLAY humility when correcting someone
Continuing in our posts evaluating Samson's life, we again acknowledge that he was called to holiness. He was called to be set apart. But he became a dishonorable vessel.
You do not want to become a dishonorable vessel.
So, how do you know what type of spiritual vessel you are, honorable or dishonorable? First, you must choose to evaluate your life.
Have I surrendered my life to Jesus?
Am I shunning unholy things?
Am I fleeing immature lusts?
Am I pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace?
Am I avoiding strife-filled conversations?
Am I a gentle, teachable, and patient person?
Am I patient when attempting to correct others?
God wants to do something very awesome in your life! But you have to make sure you are a vessel unto the Lord, fully surrendered to do His will through you. Samson never learned this lesson!
Samson was always fighting against everyone else and could not seem to control the lust of his flesh. As a result, he never surrendered or expressed passion for God until his dying breath.
What if Samson had just surrendered to God?
What if he had nurtured his parents’ passion for God in his own life?
How would his story be different?
Samson can’t change his story. His life is concluded, and it is heartbreaking. But your story is still being written. You can change your story. You can be the vessel that God uses to bring glory to Himself. You can be the “honorable” vessel God uses to impact the lives of others! Allow God to do something extraordinary in your life. It’s time to pivot from a causal and meaningless relationship to a meaningful and powerful relationship with God!
You don’t want to end your life thinking about the “what if’s,” you want to live your days celebrating and remembering all the very awesome things God did for you and through you!
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I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/1oio3Vr_UE4
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