March 23 2018
"In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honour, and some unto dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour." ...2 Timothy 2:20
What distinguishes these vessels? We note at once that only their materials are mentioned, not their function. Clearly, in keeping with the greatness of the house, it is not relative usefulness but quality of material that counts. Gold and silver vessels are less practically useful than wooden furniture or earthenware pots, but God is not here discussing with us what they will be used for because He is judging their value to Himself! In a day of deterioration in the Church, God looks beyond mere usefulness for service to individual worth, and a few pieces of gold may well be equal in value to a whole warehouse full of tables and chairs! In spiritual terms, two men may utter almost the same identical words but the power lies not in what they say but in who they are! Balaam and Isaac both spoke of the Kingdom of Christ but we know to which of the two we would turn to when in personal need.
Today in the Church as the body of Christ, we need to be willing to purge ourselves of all that which is not of Christ in our new born again experience. God is searching and looking for people who will freely choose to trust Him and depend upon His life in them absolutely and be willing to obey Him in all things. God needs quality in the assemblies today, not quantity!