Becoming a Vessel
What does it mean to be a vessel? First of all, for those of you like myself who may not have known, a vessel is a ship or a large boat or a hollow container that is used to hold liquid. We read in Acts chapter 9 that Christ refers to Saul as a "chosen vessel" to bear Jesus's name before Gentiles and Kings, and the children of Israel. Saul was not a very righteous man. Acts 9:1 refers to him as "breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord". The Lord then appears to him and says, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks". Saul asks the Lord what He would have him do and Jesus said unto that he should go into Damascus which is where Ananias finds him. He is converted and baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost.
How does Saul change from being a man who persecutes Christ and those that follow Him, to one that is a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name that those who hear him preach are amazed at the power of his testimony? Now we think about ourselves who maybe we are living good lives, but not necessarily our best lives, but we have definitely never been through a change like Saul. How can we become this vessel that Christ speaks of?
It starts by being broken and by being willing. In other words by being humble. Saul was humbled when Christ confronted him about his deliberate efforts to tear down the church and to "kick against the pricks". In my opinion we have to first become a broken vessel in order to be made a vessel through Christ or a "chosen vessel". I often think of the verse in Jeremiah 18:4-6
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
We ultimately need to be mold-able so that we be made more perfect in the hands of the potter, even God. In the words of Elder Jeffery R. Holland, "we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind". It often seems that we have so far to go to become a vessel and become a vessel that is useful in the hands of the Lord. It often seems like a slow impossible process that we will never reach, but I testify that no matter the difficulty of our personal lives, through Christ and His everlasting atonement we can become the vessel that He needs.
Learn to be mold-able
Lean to the changes that God requires of us
and Love what comes no matter what.
How does Saul change from being a man who persecutes Christ and those that follow Him, to one that is a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name that those who hear him preach are amazed at the power of his testimony? Now we think about ourselves who maybe we are living good lives, but not necessarily our best lives, but we have definitely never been through a change like Saul. How can we become this vessel that Christ speaks of?
It starts by being broken and by being willing. In other words by being humble. Saul was humbled when Christ confronted him about his deliberate efforts to tear down the church and to "kick against the pricks". In my opinion we have to first become a broken vessel in order to be made a vessel through Christ or a "chosen vessel". I often think of the verse in Jeremiah 18:4-6
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
We ultimately need to be mold-able so that we be made more perfect in the hands of the potter, even God. In the words of Elder Jeffery R. Holland, "we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind". It often seems that we have so far to go to become a vessel and become a vessel that is useful in the hands of the Lord. It often seems like a slow impossible process that we will never reach, but I testify that no matter the difficulty of our personal lives, through Christ and His everlasting atonement we can become the vessel that He needs.
Learn to be mold-able
Lean to the changes that God requires of us
and Love what comes no matter what.
Comments
Post a Comment