Vessels of Honor

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     Watch for a moment the various boats and ships as they glide past on the water.  Some are massive, carrying cargo or perhaps part of a military fleet.  Others may be sailboats and speedboats, commercial fishing boats, tour boats, even kayaks.  Of these vessels, some may gleam with newness and care while others have obviously been around a while.  These boats may be made of any number of materials, like wood, fiberglass, or metal.  No matter what type of vessel, its age, or what its exterior consists of, we have no idea what's going on inside.  It could be carrying passengers, smuggling something sinister, or even both with the former unaware of the latter.  We casual spectators can't see inside to know what's taking place.

     Similarly, much to our own detriment (and others'), we too could hide our menacing cargo and get away with it ... for a while.  At least long enough to leave a path of destruction.  How, then, do we purge the gunk and become a "vessel of honor"?  What does that even mean?

     Based on Paul's instructions to Timothy, we must remove what's dishonorable in our lives: corrupt influences, false gods and teachings, immoral behavior.  This is not saying that we must be perfect and without sin (because none of us is), but we should ask God to point out what needs to go, ask Him for strength to release it, and then be willing to do so.  Only then can any of us be a vessel of honor that's useful and prepared.  We are to be willing to suffer (Ephesians 3:13); be kind, show respect, put others first (Romans 12:10); and check our motives (James 2:2-4).  And ask Him to make use of any past transgressions, either as a lesson for us to learn or to help others (Romans  8:28).

     In some respects, all of this may sound counterintuitive when you think about various leaders, coworkers, athletes, artists, and others upon whom honor is bestowed - and in a way it is.  We're not promised recognition or reward for our efforts.  Not here, anyway.  There's no competition for us to win.  But if we serve and represent the Master, we cannot do so dishonorably.

"Devotions From The Beach"

Volleyball Games

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     Say what?

     Kind of makes your head spin, doesn't it?  Paul could be delightfully convoluted sometimes.  You can practically see his two hands, gesturing back and forth, as you read the verse (Romans 7:15) and the subsequent verses.  It's like watching a volleyball game of words and will.

     Volleyball is a fun game, whether you're a spectator or player.  It's suspenseful, particularly if the ball is kept in the air for a long period of time.  It bounces from player to player, across the net, back and forth, and the stakes grow higher the longer the ball stays in play.  Who will dive for it?  Who will miss?  When this happens, players and crowd alike will often react with each hit.

     The internal struggle Paul described in Romans 7 isn't as much fun.  We go back and forth with sin.  We willingly participate, hating ourselves for our own weakness, questioning how real our faith is, wondering if we are really saved.  We have periods when we feel like giving up and giving in, and sometimes we do.  But God doesn't.  He knew in the beginning, and knows now that we need a Saviour.

     Still, there are those times when, regardless of what we've learned and how far we've come, we want to bounce back over.  Maybe life was more exciting then or you were having more fun, or making more money, or had more dates, or,...or... Maybe if we just take a little taste of what we're missing, then we'll bounce back over to the other side of the net?  Just a quick visit.  After all, if Christ took care of the game point already, why should we be concerned?

     Thankfully Paul covered this in Romans 6 by asking a very important question.  "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?"  (v 24).  Now, be honest with yourself and your Lord as you answer this question.  How does that "benefit" compare to the peaceful mind and heart in the present?  How does that choice to sin show gratitude for the eternal life in the future?

     We can take heart that Paul struggled as we do, and was honest enough to write down the crazy game that plays out in our minds, hearts, and actions.  But, honestly, aren't you tired of playing?

"Devotions From The Beach"

Washed-Up Remnants

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     The most interesting things can wash up on shore - remnants of a larger story that we are not privy to; evidence of another time that has passed; items that don't belong in the ocean but are now a part of the beach scene.  A child's shoe that was taken out to sea; a fishing rod that slipped out of  a fishing boat; sunglasses that were jarred loose when the wearer was hit by a powerful wave - these pieces of stories remind us that the sea has the final say on their destination and configuration.

     In the same way, sin didn't belong in God's original landscape, nor was it intended for the human race.  Nonetheless, it is now part of our reality and , collectively, part of our story.  Tossed about, our random episodes of past sin wash ashore to lie in full view, and as we stroll by to take a closer look, we are forced to decide.  Will we keep walking and leave it for someone else to clean up?  Or maybe stomp it into the sand to disappear....for a while?  Or maybe we decide it's time to face our sin.  It's time to pick it up and put it in the garbage once and for all.

     Unless or until we do this, and ask God's help in the process, the cycle of sin's stronghold will continue to ebb and flow in our lives, keeping us from truly experiencing the fullness of grace He's waiting to lavish on us.  Fortunately, we can look forward to indescribably peace in knowing that the Lord (not the sea) has the final say on our sin's destination.  "He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit"  (Titus  3:5).

"Devotions For The Beach"

Prepare To Dare

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

Trying something new can be frightening, and may even be dangerous.  That's why it's much smarter to take a calculated risk than a reckless plunge.

     A calculated risk is what Charles Lindbergh took when he decided to fly across the Atlantic, alone, in a single-engine plane.  Was Lindbergh fearful?  He certainly might have been if he had never flown before, or if he had known nothing about planes.  If he hadn't trusted the builder of his plane or his mechanics, he also would have had a good reason to be anxious.  And if he had decided to make the trip on a whim, without advance planning, he certainly would have been labeled foolish.

     But none of those factors were true in Lindbergh's case.  He was an experienced pilot and mechanic who personally spent months overseeing the construction of his plane.  He participated in the planning of every detail of his historic flight.  The end result was a safe trip, finished ahead of schedule with fuel to spare.

     To a great extent, "Lucky Lindy" made his own luck.

     Likewise, heroic spiritual moments are nearly always grounded in advance preparation.  Moses grew up in Pharaoh's court, unknowingly being prepared for the day he would demand that Pharaoh let his people leave Egypt.  Daniel was a man of prayer years before the king issued a decree banning prayer.  The violation landed Daniel in a lion's den, where his prayers of protection were answered.

     David was part of Saul's royal court and married to Saul's daughter.  This was part of his preparation for assuming the throne one day.  The years he spent in the wilderness prepared him spiritually to trust God, and God alone, to preserve him, protect him, and help him rule an empire.  Esther prepared herself for a year before she won the "contest" to be queen.  She prepared herself again before boldly coming to the king to expose the enemy of her people.

     You may not see clearly what God's purpose is for your life, but you can trust in the fact He is preparing you for it.  He will not waste a moment of your life.  So make every relationship and experience count today, knowing He is grooming you for greatness!

The Morning Hour

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

 So many of us find the mornings to be a time of "rushing."  Various family members scurry in different directions with different needs and different timetables.  One has lost a sock, another can't find last night's homework.  One needs a sack lunch, another needs lunch money.  One leaves with a kiss, another with a shout, and another needs encouragement to open her eyes as she stumbles out the door.
     In sharp contrast stands the age-old advice that we each need a "quiet time" in the morning to center ourselves and to renew our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Carving out that time for yourself may be your supreme challenge of the day, but it is an effort worth its weight in gold, as so aptly stated by Bruce Fogarty:

   The Morning Hour

Alone with God, in quiet peace,
From earthly cars I find release;
New strength I borrow for each day
As there with God, I stop to pray.

Alone with God, my sins confess'd
He speaks in mercy, I am blest.
I know the kiss of pardon free,
I talk to God, He talks to me.

Alone with God, my vision clears
I see my guilt, the wasted years
I plead for grace to walk His way
And live for Him, from day to day.

Alone with God no sin between
His lovely face so plainly seen;
My guilt all gone, my heart at rest
With Christ, my Lord, my soul is blest.

Lord, keep my life alone for Thee;
From sin and self, Lord, set me free.
And when no more this earth I trod
They'll say, "He walked alone with God."

Practice Makes Perfect Peace

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     Solitude is a gift.

     Discipline is required in solitude.  It is learned discipline.  Our environment offers any number of noisy options to keep us constantly entertained.  We have forgotten how to be quiet.  When I first began to give myself to the discipline of solitude, I despaired of ever being able to quiet my mind.  I would turn the radio or TV off and sit for a while.  My mind would wander all over the place.  I was repeatedly discouraged, wanting to quit, reasoning that this was simply not the way for me to fellowship with God.  But I didn't give up.  I kept trying.  After a while I began to relax into being alone with God.  I left all my lists and requests behind.  This was time for quiet, not for petition.

     My times of silence  before God are very important to me now.  I put everything else down, every word away and I am with the Lord.  When I'm quiet, life falls into perspective for me.  I have a very active mind and I'm a worrier, but in those moments when I choose to put that away, I rest beside the Shepherd in still places.

     Why don't you give yourself a gift today?  Turn off the television or the car stereo, put down the newspaper or the business plan, and in the quietness, rest for a while beside the Shepherd of your soul.

The Peace of our Souls...

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

The peace of our souls is tethered to all that God is. And though we can’t predict His specific plans, the fact that God will work everything together for good is a completely predictable promise.

Lord, I can’t thank You enough for the promise that I can trust You at all times. Even though people may fail me … even though others may abandon me … You never will. I’m choosing to let that truth steady my heart today.

- Lysa TerKeurst, Proverbs 31 Ministries