Daily Bread 2-6-17

2 Timothy 2:20-26

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

     Today we must look at what we are and who we are as it pertains to the Church, equally the body of Christ.  As Paul was instructing Timothy on how to treat the people he had been given, he was also told that not all of them would be good people.  Not all of us were good people at the start either and many are still not good today because they will not let go of the things that are holding them back, they will not purge themselves of sin. They are more interested in being accepted by wood and earth, when they have been called to be gold and silver.  Their hearts are more desirous of dishonor than true honor.  They find it easier to take the two steps forward, two steps back method that is taught by ungodly men who wish to remain in iniquity themselves, than to purge themselves of impurity and take on the responsibilities that they have been called to. But, today let this be a start of something good in all of our lives in that we will actually have a zeal for the things of God. Today we find faith enough to believe that we can be purged of the things that do not benefit us.  We can be taken from dishonor to honor by allowing God to remove the impurities from our souls.  In doing this we will then become meet for the master's use and servants of the Lord in Jesus Christ.  Rather than being unlearned, untaught, ignorant men we will, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, become learned and knowledgeable in the things of the Lord. It will not be us that speak but the Spirit of God that speaks in us.  This will bring us into the grace of God that leads us as we lead others to Christ.  You see, people do not serve the devil by choice.  In each person there is a good soul that knows it is good.  But, unfortunately, we do not arm ourselves and the devil comes and goes at his own will and traps us into his deceptive, sinful world.  Today is the day to say, no more!! Just overcome evil long enough to make a stand and go to the Lord with a humble heart.  Today is the day that we no longer accept that we are vessels of wood and earth, dishonor and failure, but purge ourselves and know that we were born unto this earth to become the vessels of Gold and honour that are meet for the master's use. Today let us take on the willingness and determination to push evil from our souls and our minds and our hearts and let God cleanse us.  Today is the day that we sanctify our lives and take the next step toward what God has called us to do! And it all comes from becoming obedient to what we are being taught out of the Holy Word of God.  Have a great day!!!!