A Vessel for You, Lord

I have a special vase on my kitchen window sill. It is a white ceramic vase, decorated with handprints from my grandson Joel, when he was only two years old. I enjoy looking at it there when I wash up. But recently my husband was trimming the hedge with an electric trimmer, and he accidentally chopped off a branch of a climbing rose. I took it indoors and put it in Joel’s vase. It instantly transformed the kitchen with its beauty.

The empty vase was good, but there was no comparison to what it was now, with roses in it.
That’s like us. We are vessels, created by Father God. We are wonderfully and beautifully made. But when the Holy Spirit fills us we are transformed and become fit to be used for the purpose of our Maker.

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote that we could be especially set apart for the master of the house if we cleansed ourselves from what is dishonourable. There is some element of choice in this. We can make ourselves ready for every good work the Lord has planned for us.

There are things we must flee from, ‘youthful passions’, and there are things we must have nothing to do with, ‘foolish, ignorant controversies which breed quarrels’. We mustn’t be quarrelsome. But what must we pursue? It’s righteousness, faith, love, and peace. We are to call on the Lord from a pure heart. We must be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting our opponents with gentleness. The result of this may be our opponent comes under conviction and repents. They may escape from ‘the devil’s snare’ and come to their senses and find the Lord’s truth for themselves (2 Corinthians 2:22-26).

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I do desire to be a vessel which can be used for Your great Kingdom purposes. Please show me how. Please give me discernment and may I hear Your voice directing me and guiding me into purity and integrity of heart. May I be able to handle relationships with others in a way that pleases You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.