Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Kings 11-12
2 Timothy 2
Hosea 3-4
Psalms 119:121-144
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
2 Timothy 2:20–21 (CSB): “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
The verses that I have chosen for today are exciting! They tell us that it is possible to be someone that God uses in a wonderful way. And they tell us what we need to do in order for God to use us.
First of all, the Apostle Paul wrote to his protégé, Timothy, and told him something basic. He said that in every home, there were things that were common and things that were very special. There were items “made of wood and clay” and there were “gold and silver vessels.”
Obviously, you wouldn’t use a golden vessel as a dog bowl. Equally obvious is that you wouldn’t use a clay plate to serve nobility if they came to your home. Wood and clay were used for ordinary occasions. Gold and silver were for special occasions.
Simple principle: The quality of the vessel determined whether or not it was to be used for a common purpose or a special purpose.
The Apostle Paul, after stating this obvious truth, then moved to the realm of the spiritual. He was using Timothy’s understanding of household vessels to illustrate an exciting spiritual truth.
2 Timothy 2:20–21 (CSB): “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
Basically, the Lord through the Apostle Paul, is asking you and me: “Are you satisfied with doing common, ordinary things for the Kingdom? Or do you want God to use you to do extra special things for the Kingdom?”
Of course, we want to do extra special things! We want our life to count! We want to hear Heaven’s applause!
But before we finish with the one activity that will enable God to use us incredibly, we need to define what sort of things Heaven applauds. We need to acknowledge the sort of things that Heaven sees as a special purpose.
When you and I think of being used by God for an extra-special purpose, we may tend to think of activities that get us the respect we desire. We think of things that will gain us the world’s applause. We want to feel valued by others so we want to do something big and spectacular that will cause others to highly value us.
Yet, it is quite possible that the extra-special things that God would use you for will get you no earthly applause. Your service to others and the Lord may go completely unnoticed by the masses.
In fact, as we look to Jesus, whose life was lived for God’s greatest purpose (making it possible for lawbreakers to be forgiven), we observe that doing so led to continual mistreatment in His 3-year ministry, led to an unjust trial, and then it led to a horrifying death on a cross. So, when we desire for God to use us for an extra-special purpose, it may not be something that comes with our ideas of success (at least in this world). But it will gain Heaven’s applause, something we can enjoy for all of eternity.
So, how can we move from being used for common purposes in the Kingdom of God to being used for very special purposes?
2 Timothy 2:20–21 (CSB): “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (emphasis mine)
Confess and repent (genuinely and deeply) of every known sin. Stop disobeying what God has commanded, or forbidden. Develop a hatred for sin (in yourself, first). Pursue holiness, which means to passionately work to become more like Jesus.
If you are serious about abstaining from sin and pursuing genuine holiness, get ready for God to use you! He’s looking for people just like you!
2 Chronicles 16:9 (CSB): “For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him…”
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Lord Jesus, You gave me life and then You gave me eternal life. I don’t want to waste what You have entrusted to me. I don’t want my life to simply be something that You use for common purposes. I want You to be able to use me for very special purposes, those purposes that are nearest and dearest to Your heart. I want to live for Heaven’s applause. So, I am renewing my hatred for sin and my love for holiness. Please help me in this endeavor since I cannot possibly do it without You. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Matt’s Musings 