"Useful Vessel" by Mairangi Bay Community Church
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
I came across a beautiful, inspiring and powerful article by Mairangi Bay Community Church about how God chooses people to work for Him. I strongly recommend all of you to read it. The link is provided below. I will try to summarise it for today's devotional reading.
God calls all Christians to do His works. There are no Christian that are meant to say the Sinner's Prayer and that's it. We have missions to do. However, to actually do His works, there are many steps. We need to constantly grow in our spiritual maturity, we need to read the Bible a lot, we need to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit, we need to learn to be willing. And for God's part, He has a certain criteria for people whom He can use as a "vessel" or an instrument of God.
1. Proximity (Accessibility and availability)
We are the vessel, and God is the user, yes? A user will use a vessel that is near to him and it is accessible, located at a convenient place. A user will not bother to use the vessel if it is out of reach. And let's say, the user can find a vessel near him, but is the vessel available to use? If it is not, the user will find other vessel.
The same applies with us and God. God will use those who are near Him. (There are only a handful of people who are completely far away from God, but they are used by God for a special purpose. Eg. Saul). When we are near God, He can call us and we can hear Him. We need to be conscious of God's presence, we need to turn our hearts to God and we need to communicate with Him a lot. A close distance does not mean good relationship. So we need to have close and good relationship with God in order for us to be "near" Him.
2. Empty Vessel
The vessel need to be empty so that the user can pour things into the vessel.
Hebrews 12:1,2 says, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." We have to empty our worldly baggage. Turn your focus from the earthly things to heavenly things. Only when your heart and mind is "empty" (from the earthly worries and desires), God then can pour His desire, blessings and power into our hearts and mind.
3. Clean Vessel
The next step after emptying our hearts and mind is we need to CLEAN it. The following points are very provoking, however, I feel that someone has to say it. Being a Christian is not easy. Doing God's work is not easy. God's work are holy work so for us to do it, we have to be worthy of the calling. "God cannot use an unclean and sinful person". Don't get confused with "God forgiven us while we are a sinner". Christian life : God forgives --> God sends us to work. All sinners will be freely forgiven as long as we go to Him. But to be used by Him to do His mighty and holy work, we have to be "worthy". "A preacher is not qualified to tell other Christians to live a life of “Holiness”, if he himself is living an immoral double standard life."
4. Willing Vessel (desire)
The three above points are useless without the last point, which is the willingness of the heart. If you are not willing to work for God, God will not use you even though you are near, empty and clean. However, if you are willing to work for God, you will have the desire to be near to Him, to be focused on God and to be holy as God calls us to be holy.
Let us be a Willing vessel for Him! Encourage one another to always keep our focus on God, discard our worldly baggage, always make an effort to be close to God. When we experience God, it is addictive that He makes us to want more of Him. Be hungry and thirsty for Him.
Let's Pray
Dear God, I want to be Your instrument to do Your might works. I know that You can't use people who are still unclean and unwilling. Therefore, I want to ask You to cleanse me and lead me. Teach me Your ways and renew my Spirit every day. I want to grow deeper in love with You. I want to be closer to You. I want to help others to find You. I want the Heaven to be filled with people. I am willing Lord, here I am, send me! In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!
Read the full article : Useful Vessel by Mairangi Bay Community Church
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
I came across a beautiful, inspiring and powerful article by Mairangi Bay Community Church about how God chooses people to work for Him. I strongly recommend all of you to read it. The link is provided below. I will try to summarise it for today's devotional reading.
God calls all Christians to do His works. There are no Christian that are meant to say the Sinner's Prayer and that's it. We have missions to do. However, to actually do His works, there are many steps. We need to constantly grow in our spiritual maturity, we need to read the Bible a lot, we need to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit, we need to learn to be willing. And for God's part, He has a certain criteria for people whom He can use as a "vessel" or an instrument of God.
1. Proximity (Accessibility and availability)
We are the vessel, and God is the user, yes? A user will use a vessel that is near to him and it is accessible, located at a convenient place. A user will not bother to use the vessel if it is out of reach. And let's say, the user can find a vessel near him, but is the vessel available to use? If it is not, the user will find other vessel.
The same applies with us and God. God will use those who are near Him. (There are only a handful of people who are completely far away from God, but they are used by God for a special purpose. Eg. Saul). When we are near God, He can call us and we can hear Him. We need to be conscious of God's presence, we need to turn our hearts to God and we need to communicate with Him a lot. A close distance does not mean good relationship. So we need to have close and good relationship with God in order for us to be "near" Him.
2. Empty Vessel
The vessel need to be empty so that the user can pour things into the vessel.
Hebrews 12:1,2 says, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." We have to empty our worldly baggage. Turn your focus from the earthly things to heavenly things. Only when your heart and mind is "empty" (from the earthly worries and desires), God then can pour His desire, blessings and power into our hearts and mind.
3. Clean Vessel
The next step after emptying our hearts and mind is we need to CLEAN it. The following points are very provoking, however, I feel that someone has to say it. Being a Christian is not easy. Doing God's work is not easy. God's work are holy work so for us to do it, we have to be worthy of the calling. "God cannot use an unclean and sinful person". Don't get confused with "God forgiven us while we are a sinner". Christian life : God forgives --> God sends us to work. All sinners will be freely forgiven as long as we go to Him. But to be used by Him to do His mighty and holy work, we have to be "worthy". "A preacher is not qualified to tell other Christians to live a life of “Holiness”, if he himself is living an immoral double standard life."
4. Willing Vessel (desire)
The three above points are useless without the last point, which is the willingness of the heart. If you are not willing to work for God, God will not use you even though you are near, empty and clean. However, if you are willing to work for God, you will have the desire to be near to Him, to be focused on God and to be holy as God calls us to be holy.
Let us be a Willing vessel for Him! Encourage one another to always keep our focus on God, discard our worldly baggage, always make an effort to be close to God. When we experience God, it is addictive that He makes us to want more of Him. Be hungry and thirsty for Him.
Let's Pray
Dear God, I want to be Your instrument to do Your might works. I know that You can't use people who are still unclean and unwilling. Therefore, I want to ask You to cleanse me and lead me. Teach me Your ways and renew my Spirit every day. I want to grow deeper in love with You. I want to be closer to You. I want to help others to find You. I want the Heaven to be filled with people. I am willing Lord, here I am, send me! In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!
Read the full article : Useful Vessel by Mairangi Bay Community Church
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