Servants Prepared for Service

" I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty,

and of thy wondrous works!"

~ Psalm 145:5 ~

In my last post I shared with you how we should be
 "vessels fit for the Master"

clean, empty and available.

~ 2 Timothy 2:21 ~

Now to be vessels honorable for the Master, in the lives of

our family's ~ neighbor's ~ friends ~

and even strangers God brings across our paths.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the exellency of the power

may be of God, and not of us."

~ 2 Corinthians 4:7 ~

This is the exciting part!

As believers we are simply a jar of clay.

It is the treasure within the vessel that gives the vessel it's value.

Isn't that the most beautiful promise of God?

~ Acts 9:15 God said of Paul ~

"Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me,

go bear my name before the Gentiles,

and kings, and the children of Israel"

We must focus on the treasure and not the vessel (ourselves).

We are "earthen vessels" so that we might depend on God's power

and not our own.

This treasure of the gospel is currently contained within the
frail, fragile and fickle bodies of the redeemed.
When we allow ourselves to be servants prepared for service ~ 2 Timothy 2:21 ~
God's glory will shine through our humanity ~ and
it will be seen as His power, not ours.

God has beautifully fashioned each one of us to be uniquely different.

He wants us to be useable as His servants in the lives of others.

Like these beautiful bottles/ jars/ vases of mine 

they come in all shapes sizes and colors

made for different uses.
Some vessels may be chipped and broken, yet still useable.

" For thou hast possessed my reins; 

thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvelous are thy works:

and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!

how great is the sum of them."

~ Psalm 139:13-17 ~

Oh the beauty of God's hand in each one of our lives.
May we rejoice with one another!

Then; as God's vessels unto honor, life will not always be easy.

Paul was not afraid of suffering or trial

because he knew God would guard the vessel. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8 ~

What a beautiful promise; God guards the vessel.

God permits trials, He controls trials, and he uses trials and sufferings for His own glory.

Sometimes God permits our vessels to be shaken up

so that some of the "treasure"

will spill out and touch the lives of others.

When we ourselves have gone through suffering or a trial,

 God will use us to lovingly minister to hearting hearts
who may be going through what we ourselves went through.

Blessings come through pain, and God's glory shines in suffering ~ 2 Timothy 2:10 ~
through those who have given themselves to His use.
We are all different, and each of our lives has a story to tell.
It is God's love that is poured into the vessel,
and it will be His love that is poured out
into other lives.
We just have to be willing vessels, with a servants heart, desiring to be used.

May we be as Paul and see that

" the excellency of the power may be of God and not of ourselves."

All that we are ~ all that we have become ~ and all that we will be
is of the power of God, and NOT of ourselves.
May we rest in knowing that God will guard us,
He will prepare us, and He will use us for His service
so that we can graciously and lovingly
minister to others for His glory.

Our Precious Heavenly Father,

make us servants useful for Your service.

Help us to graciously accept who You created us to be

keeping our focus on the treasure, and not ourselves.

Give us a thankful heart

for whatever may come into our lives

so that we may be ready and prepared

by Your power to minister in the lives of others.

To God be the Glory.

Amen

Be lovely,

~ Debbie ~

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