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. [2 timothy 2:20–21]
we have special christmas dishes. they have trees on them and i guess they’re some kind of well known christmas dish brand or something. they sit in boxes in our basement storage all year until christmas when emma breaks them out for one meal (maybe). they’re very cute dishes. but we use them once or twice a year and then set them aside for 364 days.
i think this is how we often view our salvation and holiness in Christ. set aside, just like our christmas dishes. sure, we’ve been saved and that’s awesome…but now God is on to something else and we just sit in boxes for 364 days while we wait for God to need us for something. saved and set aside and moved on from.
but scripture says we have been set apart, not set aside. the point of being cleansed of what is dishonorable is not to be disregarded after that. it is to become a vessel for honorable use. useful to the master. ready for good work. this is a life-defining purpose, not a once a year occasion.
general– everyone is called to bring glory to God. that’s what scripture means when it says we were made in his image. so every believer is commanded to make disciples, to forgive, to love, and to serve, among other things. our general calling of honorable use.
specific – there will be specific ways we can carry out our general calling that will differ from our brothers and sisters. maybe a specific job, a specific person to disciple, or a particular gifting God has called you to walk in.
it is easy to create a mentality of uselessness. particularly in a season when most of us have less things to do and it’s harder to pursue people. but when we allow ourselves to see the depth of God’s plan for our lives – to be redeemed image bearers – it is hard not to get excited about the joy of walking in the good works God would layout for us. so today be reminded of the fruit of your salvation – the amazing beauty of following a loving God wherever he would lead.
for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [ephesians 2:10]
~ keith kozlowski