2 TIMOTHY 2:20-21 – Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

THEME OF THE DAY: FIT FOR THE MASTER’S USE.   It is one of the more famous of quotes from the quotable Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne, the 19th century Scottish pastor greatly used by God.  He said to his congregation in St. Peter’s Church at Dundee, Scotland, “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus.”

When it comes to the theme of the day, all Christians want to be used by the Lord to influence others for Him.  Yet, we may easily miss how that influence occurs.  What I am about to say might not sit well with some Christians.  Our greatest impact for Christ in our families and world is not the public use and service by our gifts and talents, but our private cultivation of our walks with and conformity to the likeness of the Lord Jesus.  Now please don’t think I am speaking against the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to every believer for the building up of the saints in Christ’s church.  I am not. The Apostle Paul makes it clear the Lord gifts His children for the works of ministry (Ephesians 4:9-15).  However, if our first response to the mention of the Holy Spirit is giftedness, we are missing His two primary works in the believer.  They are illuminating our minds to the truth of scripture and revealing Christ to us – I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you  (John 16:12-14).  In fact, one may use a spiritual gift, but if a life modeling Christ is absent, it produces confusion, and may actually be hypocrisy.

As the Spirit of God does these two works in us – illuminating the scripture and revealing Christ to us – the application is found in the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians – And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are conformed into the image of Christ.  And in today’s scripture, what precedes the words “useful to the master of the house”?  A holy life.  A life conformed to Jesus and that means our fitness for His service is dependent on our holiness.

So, as we seek to be used by the Lord, let’s strive to be more like the Lord which opens the door to be used by Him.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to see it is my likeness to Jesus that matters most.”

QUOTE: “The Holy Spirit is given not so much for giftedness but to make us like Christ.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim