I cannot be filled with His Spirit until I am empty of me empty of my selfish desires empty of my vain understanding empty of insisting on my own way empty of charting my own course. empty of focusing on the world "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." |
"But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand" Isaiah 68 |
The Chosen Vessel The Master was searching for a vessel to use; On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose? Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright, I'm of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest And for some like You, Master, gold would be the best! The Master passed on with no word at all; He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall; I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out your wine And I'll be at your table whenever you dine, My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true, And my silver will always compliment You Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass, It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass. Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do, place me on your table for all men to view. Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear, My transparency shows my contents so dear, Though fragile am I, I will serve you with pride, I'm sure I'll be happy in your house to abide. The Master came next to a vessel of wood, Polished and carved, it solidly stood. You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said, But I'd rather you used me for fruit, not for bread! Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay, Empty and broken it helplessly lay. No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose, To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use. Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find, I will mend and use it and make it all Mine. I need not the vessel with pride of its self; Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf; Nor the one who is bigmouthed and shallow and loud; Nor one who displays his contents so proud; Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right; But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might. Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay, Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day, Spoke to it kindly, "There's work you must do, Just pour out to others as I pour into you." - author unknown - |
Are You Able 1. "Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?" "Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "to the death we follow thee." Refrain: Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty. 2. Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise? (Refrain) 3. Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God? (Refrain) 4. Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee. (Refrain) ----------------------------------------------------- |
Remold me, reshape me, make me like Thee. |
a vessel already full cannot be filled |
Did Jesus mean what He said about denying ourself? Oh, absolutely, YES!!! Did He really mean to deny ourselves earthly comforts and possessions? Oh, absolutely, YES!!! Jesus said He did not even have a home to lay His weary head down in. If He went without, and we follow Him, should we expect greater ease and comfort than He Himself had? Not rational or reasonable thinking. Yes, He meant for us to say "no" to the things of the world. He really, really meant it! He meant it absolutely. Did He really mean we are to follow HIm? Live as He lived? Do the things He did? Have real compassion? Offer real help to others? Oh, absolutely, YES!!! You mean, He expects me to give up my grasping, greedy, earthly nature to obtain and attain more and more of the best the world has to offer? Oh, absolutely, YES!!! You mean, He expects me to forego buying a third new vehicle, and the big screen television, and the new furniture, and the latest fashions, and expensive "toys", and my annual vacation to the islands, and use that money to feed some hungry, clothe some naked, shelter someone who is down and out, tell a lost soul about Him? YES!!! Absolutely!!! You mean, He means for me to be willing to walk away from it all for Him? Oh, absolutely, YES!!! You see, if you aren't willing to do that, then the truth is, those things are more important to you than He is. |
Dear God, Help me to be willing to be obedient to all that Jesus commanded, to be willing to let go of all that I am so that I can become what you want to make me. Be my strength as day by day, I seek your purifying fire to transform me into a usable vessel fit for the work you have planned for me, that my life may at every moment bring Glory to Jesus Christ and God the Father. Purge me, refine me, mold me, and shape me most Holy God into your image, filled with your spirit, your strength, your compassion, your perfect love, and your light so that others may see and Glorify you always! I pray that all those who say they know you and love you might be ignited also to be transformed into your beautiful image, that we might all walk in Your spirit, not pulled aside by the lures of the world, but always, like Jesus, with hearts to be about our Heavenly Father's business. Dear Father God, when we hear the voice of your spirit say, "Follow me," let us like those fishermen and the tax collector of old, heed your call instantly and simply walk with you where you lead, forsaking all else. There is still so much we need to do in this lost world, now, today, this day, is the time! Amen |
Page last updated on: 7/7/02
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Does God actually have a plan and a purpose for my life? Oh, child of God, you can be absolutely certain of it! But unless and until you choose with your whole heart, mind and soul to deny everything that is now your life and seek to follow Him, to empty yourself of self enough for Him to fill you with Himself, you will never, ever know what wonderful, beyond-your-wildest-imagination plans He had for you. You will never be a chosen vessel for Him to fill so that you could share all that He had to give you. You will have missed Him for the world. Absolute truth. The truth is, His work for you is very important to the perfecting of His plan and purpose for humanity. And, if you never do it, then what? What if you never get around to it? What if you plan to live for him beginning next month, next year, when you retire? What if you have a heart attack and die long before then? What if you never bear one seed of fruit for Him because the things of the world, your daily life consumed all your time and energy??? What if you never had time to be His servant because you were too busy being your own master? What if every time He approached your vessel in His selection process He found it full to overflowing with the sour vinegar of your pathetic, temporal life, with no room for the pure water of His Spirit? |
