Be a Pure Container of Christ
20 In a palace you find many kinds of containers and tableware for many different uses. Some are beautifully inlaid with gold or silver, but some are made of wood or earthenware; some of them are used for banquets and special occasions, and some for everyday use. 21 But you, Timothy, must not see your life and ministry this way. Your life and ministry must not be disgraced, for you are to be a pure container of Christ and dedicated to the honorable purposes of your Master, prepared for every good work that he gives you to do.
22 Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts.
23 Stay away from all the foolish arguments of the immature, for these disputes will only generate more conflict. 24 For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature. 25 Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the truth. 26 This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of Satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes.
—2 Timothy 2:20-26 The Passion Translation
Isn’t this the most beautiful illustration of how His way is so perfect?
I’m realizing that God has us in a time of intensified preparation…
He’s purifying us….
and it’s painful.
But there’s an unexplainable JOY that He infuses into the process… ☀️
He’s preparing us because He wants us to be able to carry what He has for us to carry—The GOOD things He has planned for those who love Him!
He doesn’t want what He has for us to crush us, to destroy us, to cause us to stumble, to cause us to crumble, to cause us to fall.
But He’s got this plan… and He has this perfect way…
…And He’s doing a deep cleansing work, He’s doing a deep purification, and He’s inviting us into a deep transformation. ?✨
He’s uprooting the deepest of roots. Roots that have grown deep in the dark, hidden in our hearts for many generations.
He’s doing a work in our hearts, and it’s not painless. ?
But He knows that if our hearts are not purified, He knows that if these deep roots are not uprooted, He knows that if we are not properly prepared—emptied…. that these places that are hidden within our hearts can become “snares and traps” that can be used for harm and destruction.
And so our Good Father is inviting us into a time of deep purification and preparation. ?
Yes, He knows it’s painful. But He’s prepared a way, He’s made the necessary plans to help us through this thing with His peace, and His hope, and His grace, and His JOY!
He has a purpose, and it’s a beautiful one. ☀️
And within this painful, purification process He’s taking us through…
We’re going to find the most refreshing hope and JOY waiting for us… no matter what part of the process we’re at.
He can do things like that. ?✨
Father, will You give us the courage we need to be able to sit with You, as we open our hearts up before You, and as we sit with You and we take a look at what’s really inside?
And will You help us to walk in the peace that You promise, that we may be able to endure and not give in and not give up…?
And will You infuse us with JOY… that we might be surprised ✨ at the incredible discovery of JOY we’ll find in the middle of this purification, preparation process with You… ?☀️✨
Let us take heed, let us not be taken from Your perfectly planned path. Help us to see and understand and comprehend… that everything You do, everything You take us through, is because You love us, and because You want to prepare us for the GOOD things You have in store for us.
You’ve invited us with an invitation from Your heart…. to take part. ? ??♂️??♀️
Thank You, Father. Thank You for what You’ve done, thank You for what You’re doing, and thank You for what You will do. ?
-Heather ?