Willing Vessels of Honor

Luke 1:38 - ...then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

As I took my very early morning walk Monday, the thought came to me about Mary, the mother of Jesus. I thought about how God chose her to exact His plan of salvation. I thought about her willingness and the scripture that speaks of vessels to be used for God's service. 

...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. (2Timothy 2:20-21)

Although God has used evil or unrighteous people to bring about a plan, if I wish to be used by God, I must be willing and set apart for His service. Gold and silver set apart from wood and clay. That means there needs to be a humility, willingness and obedience. It means being in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Mary was that willing vessel chosen by God. She called herself a maidservant. In looking into that word it means handmaiden. It means she chose to submit herself, humbly, to the will of God. She does not put herself on a level any greater than maidservant. She realized her standing with God. She also knew she was in need of a Savior as much as we do. In her case it would be her Son. The circumstances she would face demanded complete trust in God.

Those who are followers of Christ have also been chosen by God. They are called to be willing vessels for His service. In other verses the Bible talks about the Master Potter. As a child of His, He begins the task of molding and shaping us:

...O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

God asks each of His followers to be willing vessels and to humble ourselves, allow the Master Potter to mold and shape us into someone He would want to use. This is not some horrible thing. He makes us better than we think we are. We don't need to be perfect or know everything. He will use anyone in tune with His Holy Spirit and willing to be led. We are to fully trust in our God and our Lord to know what is right for us.

Like Mary, our circumstances may not be the greatest. It may seem to us, in our human nature, to be an embarrassing circumstance, but God knows. We may be scorned or rejected, like Mary. Hmmm, seems to me Jesus was too. That should be of great comfort.

If God calls us to be His child and we respond to the call, we need to stick with it, follow, and keep ourselves in that place. If He asks us to do something, we need to do it. Mary didn't draw attention to herself, neither should we. We are simply God's servants.

God chose us like He chose Mary. Mary is no greater than we are and we no greater than Mary. God/Jesus are the only ones worthy of such greatness. We are simply willing vessels...to honor God, bring glory to His name and reveal Christ through us for God and by God. The only One who should be on any pedestal is Jesus who is on the greatest pedestal, the Throne of God. No person can put themselves on even ground with Christ or with God. We can, however, put myself on even ground with His maidservant, Mary, as that willing vessel.  

Mary brought forth in birth Jesus as mankind's Savior (including hers). We are to bring forth the Word, Jesus, through His Word that others might meet that same Savior.

Lord, I used to pray every morning to be that willing vessel. I used to pray to be filled to overflowing that I might share what You have given me with others. Help me to remember to do that again. Cleanse me of that which is dishonorable to You. I pray that I would empty myself of who I think I am and fill myself with what You want me to be. Lord, You were lifted up that You would draw all men to You. Your death brings life and light. You drew me unto You. Thank You, Lord, for doing that. You use vessels. Use me. 

1Peter 2:9 - ...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...

The Lord Hears, Delivers and is Near

Psalm ‭34:17-18‬ ‭- The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Do you hear this? The LORD hears, delivers and is near...to those who are righteous, having broken hearts and contrite spirits. Righteous means to be right, cleansed. Contrite means broken, crushed. We cannot come to God with vanity and pride. It just won't happen. 

Jesus' whole message to us was to come to Him, the only true Way. He begins by pricking our hearts and spirits that we may recognize our need for Him, but then we make a decision to go to Him. We recognize Him as greater than we, we fall before Him and ask for His forgiveness for our sins. We humble ourselves and repent of them. 

We cannot think or believe that our goodness in this life is what Jesus will honor. The Bible tells us this. If we do, we are boasting in ourselves and our abilities. We humble ourselves before the Lord. We come to Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9‬)  Ohhhh...it's a free gift! He requires only our humility and submission to Him. Do you see how wonderful this is? Nothing we can do, but all that He has done on the cross. He shed His blood that we might be cleansed and made righteous by the blood of the Lamb...when we come humbly to Him...asking for forgiveness. 

Then...He will hear, deliver and be near us. But...Proverbs 15:29 says The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. Sounds pretty harsh. We are all considered wicked until we become righteous by the saving grace of Jesus.

There's that word righteous again...being right (with God) and cleansed (by the blood of Jesus). Coming humbly before Him, asking forgiveness, turning from sin, following Christ. Sharing Christ with others.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil... To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me... Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  (Isaiah‬ ‭1)

Only one sacrifice, that of Jesus, can wash us clean. When we believe this, submit to this truth, come humbly to Him, will we be righteous and cleansed. Before we understand this we try to do it on our own. Our offerings or sacrifices--our self-prescribed goodness--is not what He desires. He wants us! In relationship with Him. 

This is relationship:

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea‬ ‭6:6‬)  Knowing God vs. sacrifices.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬) Abiding together.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name... (John‬ ‭1:12‬)  Relationship

There's a lot of scripture here. His Word is truth and it will never return void (be useless or vain). There's a word here for someone, including me! He will hear if you humble yourself and turn to Him. Ask for forgiveness of your sins. Maybe you haven't done any major crimes or physical murders. Maybe you don't know what your sins might be. That's okay. He will show you. 

I asked initially for help. In absolute weakness I humbly responded to Him for His help. All the rest of my knowledge came because of my initial humility. He changed me rather than the trial. He brought life to me when I was so low. Just where He wants us. Low. Humble. Unable to do in our own strength. Needing help, needing a Savior. So in my heart, in my weakness, I cried out and He heard, delivered and became near to me. He will do the same for anyone.

Psalm ‭145:18-19‬ ‭- The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

‭

‭‭