0072. The Believer Is a Vessel

The Believer Is a Vessel

"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use" (2Ti_2:20-21).

1. God’s great demand is for His servants to be clean: Read Isa_52:11. Education, talents, influence–nothing takes precedence over the clean life.

2. Read Deuteronomy 34. To be unclean is to lose God’s presence and approval. David said: "Create in me a clean heart, * * then will I teach transgressors Thy ways". God can only use clean vessels in His service.

3. Read the following poem. Better memorize it and recite it.

"The Master stood in His garden

Among His lilies so fair,

Which His own right hand had planted

And trained with tenderest care.

"He looked at their snowy pinions,

And marked with observing eye,

That His lilies were drooped and fading,

And their leaves were parched and dry.

"Close, close to His feet in the pathway,

All empty, and frail and small

Was an earthen vessel lying,

That seemed of no use at all.

"But the Master saw it, and raised it,

From the dust in which it lay,

And said, as He sweetly whispered:

‘My work it shall do today.’

"’It is but an earthen vessel,

But close it is lying to Me,

It is small, but clean and empty,

That is all it needs to be.’

"So forth to the fountain He bore it;

And filled it to the brim.

How glad was the earthen vessel

To be of some use to Him.

"His own hand drew the water,

Refreshing His flowers so fair,

But He used the earthen vessel

To convey the waters there.

"And then to itself it whispered,

As He laid it aside once more:

‘I still will lie in His pathway

Just where I was before.

"’Oh, close would I keep to the Master,

Clean and empty would I remain,

For day by day He may use me

To water His lilies again.’"

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR