Be empty

In 2Timothy 2:20-21, the Bible has this to say: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work”. (NIV)

Christians are like these vessels. Some are made of gold and silver: precious, tested and purified by fire, and able to endure. Others are made of wood and clay: beautiful but fragile, easily burnt, and for ordinary use. Each one was made for a specific purpose. But ultimately, end each one was intended to do good work.

Your Life, your choice
We have a choice to be what we want to be: to be gold, silver, wood, or clay. Is your life for noble purposes? Or, for common use only? Are you satisfied with your service, or, do you feel there’s more you can do for the Lord? Pray about it. Ask the LORD to guide your heart as you meditate on these things.

It doesn’t matter what we are today. Even if we are wood or clay, if we desire to do God’s will, we can be changed into gold or silver. Just remember that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old is gone, the new has come. (2Cor. 5:17) The Holy Spirit has the power to transform even the most worthless individual and the vilest of sinners. The Holy Spirit has a mighty influence to draw you near to God and change your life.

In order to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, sometimes it is necessary to eliminate the less important things in our lives. Our situation in life does not determine the legacy that we can leave to our children. Even a humble, ordinary situation can be turned into something extra-ordinary. God’s sovereign power has turned ordinary, unschooled men, to become apostles and spiritual celebrities and heroes in the faith. And these ordinary men turned the world upside down during the first century. And its not about them; its about God’s sovereign purpose. If God created us for a purpose, then by all means we must find that purpose and fulfill them as God intended it to be. A soldier does not get involve in civilian affairs; his only concern is to please his commanding officer. A Christian should focus his eyes on Jesus Christ.

But beware: God cannot use us if our hearts are filled with worldly things, or if our thoughts are preoccupied with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vanities of this world (the pride of life). We need to empty ourselves of pride, lust, anger, bitterness, arrogance, and other worldly things that will defile the oil (Holy Spirit) God wishes to give.

We must desire to be empty in order to be filled.