“So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honourable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.” 2 Tim. 2:21.
Sami Jo was a missionary to Cambodia. She lived in a hut in Thailand next to the Demilitarized Zone. She was a skilled and highly educated physical therapist and used her ability to work with soldiers who had lost limbs in the war. She was there to serve God. She was there for God to use her abilities to help amputees and through her skill to share the Gospel. At least that was what she thought. Then, she was put on the assignment of lancing boils and bandaging sores. No physical therapy, just boils. No great need for her skill set, just bandaging open wounds.
But, through this humbling experience, Sami Jo learned about obedience. She learned she wasn’t serving God because of her skills, or what she could offer, but God was looking for people that would just obey Him and remain in their duty post come what may. Gradually this has become such a difficult thing in our times. People think God is looking for gifted people, far from it. He is looking for available and obedient people. Those who have yielded the whole of their lives to the cause of the gospel not necessarily their gifts.
I know giftedness is celebrated in the church. The truth however is that God doesn’t use you because you are gifted alone, it’s because you are a yielded vessel in His hands. The yielded vessel is a dependent vessel—It does not rely upon its own resources or abilities. It recognizes its need to be totally dependent upon the Lord. A yielded vessel walks in humility, giving God its consent to be all. The yielded vessel is a receptive vessel—Water seeks out the lowest place as it flows. Pour out a bucket of water on the side of a hill and it will not follow the path up the hill, but down it. It is into the yielded vessel that the Holy Spirit flows.
FURTHER READING:
“Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.
“And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).” 1 John. 3:3.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, thank You for another day, I come before you today, I ask that You help to move beyond being gifted to being yielded. Help me to yield the totality of my person and ability and personality to you. Help me to be willing and obedient to you on all fronts, grace me to be all you have designed me to be. Anoint my head with oil for obedience and productivity, I thank you for a new day has down upon me in the name of Jesus, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matt. 26:1-75. Matt. 27:1-66. Matt. 28:1-20. Mark. 1:1-45.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“A Yielded Vessel Is More Eternally Relevant Than A Gifted Vessel. Yield Your Gift To God.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria. http://www.thefortresschurch.com. Email:info@thefortresschurch.com.
