Something To Work With

by Norm SawyerMar 17, 2015Our Personal Fires2 comments

Proverbs 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

When God works on our hearts with His fire, stuff will be burnt off. Why do we want God burning the dross out of our lives? So that we come forth as a vessel for the Master’s use. 2 Tim. 2:21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
We have all heard the expression, “God will take you the way you are but He loves you too much to leave you that way.” Essentially, the moment we are born-again the fire cleansing love of God takes away our sin nature that we walked in before receiving Christ and starts the long lifetime process of molding us into a vessel of honor to work with.
Jer. 1:5a Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. God knew us before we were born and saw our future. His heart is to make us like His son Jesus, turning us into the person God knows us to be in Christ. Hopefully a vessel of honor. Wow! What a God we serve.

We have often read how Jesus called the men that would become His disciples. They were described by the Pharisees as unlearned and ignorant men. Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Yet these men had become something God could work with when Christ had become the center of their lives. They had become vessels of honor to the glory of Christ the Lord. They had become more then the world gave them credit to be. Peter and John were low class and common in the Pharisee’s eyes but they were number one in God’s eye.

We read of Joseph’s promotion when he had become the ruler in Egypt. Gen. 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Joseph was number two in Pharaoh’s eyes but he was number one in God’s eyes. Joseph had become a vessel for the Master’s use. God had something He could work with and save a nation from starvation and lay the foundation for the rise of the nation of Israel.

When God is removing the dross from our lives, it is not to hinder us from our big plans in life. It is to give us a life in Christ so that we will reflect the love of God for all people and all nations. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God has a world plan and an eternal one. We can only become a vessel of honor to work with when we are showing forth God’s nature and love for all of the nations of the world. Psalm 86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. When God, through His word, is burning away the dross in our lives, He is building our capacity to become more like Christ and have an ability to offer grace and justice to the people of the world whom God has created.
We are not alone in this world, yet we often live like we are. Someone might say, “What can I do, I am just an everyday ordinary person?” Matt. 25:35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. It starts with the people in our lives. We become an instrument or a vessel of God’s love, compassion, and blessing in the Kingdom of our God.
It might seem like we are useless or inept in many people’s eyes, but we will be number one in God’s eye and those are the eyes that really count. May our capacity grow and our desire for God and His word be our portion in this life. May we all become vessels of honor and give our God something to work with to the Glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Blessing be on us all. Amen.

Topical Bible Studies About: Wanting Better

2 Comments

Anonymous on March 18, 2015 at 4:03 am
Amen and amen ! I love how God always uses you to confirm things in me and for me!
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Anonymous on March 17, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Hi Norm….Very good one!
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