Vessels of Honor and Dishonor

II Timothy 2:20-21

If you look at the two pictures, there is a bowl for eating and a bowl that is not intended for eating. One we proudly set before guests, and another that we want to make sure is clean before we have guests. Interestingly enough, they are made from the exact same thing. The difference is what they were designated for. While we might not be able to get past the mental hang-up, right out of the box there is no difference in the two, other than shape. However, once one has been defiled, we don't want to even consider the possibility of using it as a serving dish.

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"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."

II Timothy 2:20-21

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We all start out as sinners (Romans 3:23), but if/when we come to know Christ as our Savior, He cleanses us. Not only does He cleanse us from our sins, but He gives us a new life with a new purpose (II Corinthians 5:17). The Apostle John spoke of this in I John 1.

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"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I John 1:7-9

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Even as Christians, we have to repent of our sins. It is no longer for salvation, but for the relationship with our Father. We are cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are then "sanctified as a vessel of honor, and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work". No doubt, if you are taking the time to read this, you would want to be approved of by God. So do I! This means we have to repent when we sin, and seek His cleansing. We want to be a clean bowl of honor to Him; not a vile toilet because of our sins.

Father, thank You for the Blood of Jesus that washing away our sins if we ask. Sins messes us up far more than we can ever really understand. May we continually seek Your cleansing so that we will be acceptable in Your sight, and fit to be used by You.