Title: Vessels of Honor (2 Timothy 02:20-22)
Contents A large house has several bowls. There are gold and silver bowls as well as wood and earthenware, glassware, and expensive antiques.
This large house refers to the church in this biblical text.
And according to 1 Corinthians 3:12, 13, “If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, or straw, each of them will show their work, and on that day their work will be revealed, and it will be revealed by fire, and the fire. For what kind of work each of these people will be tested.” Here, gold and silver jewels can be interpreted as people with good faith, and wood, grass, and straw as people with bad faith. Therefore, the gold and silver vessels in the text refer to vessels used with honor, that is, good believers, while the wooden and earthen vessels refer to those who do not have true faith, whose work is burning in a lowly manner.
1. A vessel for honorable use is a clean vessel (verse 21b).
It seems that "this thing" was said by taking wood and earthenware. In other words, the way to become gold and silver vessels is to purify yourself in the place of the lowly used vessels.
“There is no one righteous from birth. There is no one righteous, no, not even one” (Romans 3:10). We also repent in the light and become righteous through faith in Jesus. That is, they become gold and silver vessels.
Students, especially Christian students, have the advantage of being pure. Because
In the light of God's Word, things that are transgressive, sinful, and repulsive in conscience must be thoroughly repented of with hot tears before God. do(21)
In 1 Peter 1:16, God said, “…Be holy because I am holy.” Although King Solomon ascended to the throne at a young age, he was a king with a holy dignity, praying to God and communicating with a holy God. Therefore, God was with me and gave me the wisdom of heaven so that I could enjoy the greatest wealth and glory in the history of the world.
2) These vessels are worthy of the Lord’s use (verse 21b).
In 1 Samuel 16, the priest Samuel was choosing a person suitable for the heart of Jehovah God from the house of Jesse.
All of them passed before Samuel, including Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, but they were not in accordance with God's heart. Indeed, God considers and honors students with a clean and holy heart among many students.
2. Vessels for honorable use are prepared for every good work (v.
The Christian student whom God values must be good in every way, not only at church, but also at home and at school. It is called “every good work,” but the source of goodness is God.
Therefore, in the West, God is called GOD. GOTD is derived from GOTOD, which means “good”. In other words, God is the “good one” and the source of goodness.
Christian students who are children of God must be prepared for every good work. If you are a student, you should set a good example in the search for truth at school and shine the good light of God as a Christian student. Christian students should not be lazy in their studies. “Go to the ant, you lazy, and see what it does, and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6).
In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 it is written, “If anyone does not want to work, let him not eat.” Christian students should serve the Lord with devout faith and zeal. We need to focus on prayer, read the Bible as much as we can, and lead unbelieving students to the Lord and to the church. And by studying hard, you want other students to be like that, and you have to be the object of admiration. This is the practice of faith, the creation of life, and the bearing of fruit.
3. Vessels for honorary use follow the faith of righteousness and peace with men (22)
On the way to become like this again
1) 『Flee youthful lusts』 (verse 22b)
Lust is the filthy stain on the vessel of a clean heart, the rotting dregs. That is why he said, “I have crucified passions and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). From a young age, you must cultivate self-control and the pious practice of killing the self.
Look at Joseph in the Old Testament. As I renounced lust and ran away to keep my chastity, I received God's love and blessing and became the prime minister of the ancient Egyptian kingdom.
2) The vessel of honor pursues righteousness with those who call on the pure Lord (verse 22b).
『Those who call on the Lord with a pure heart』 teaches church members. The Bible tells us not to pursue righteousness alone, but to pursue it with the saints. A clean community. It is telling us how necessary and important a community of faith that calls the same Lord as one Spirit, a gathering of Christian students who cooperate, and how we can receive God's great grace and do the Lord's great work.
Christian students, I hope that you will repent of your transgressions and sins and become pure and pure gold and silver vessels. So, I hope that it will be used preciously so that it is worthy of the will of the Lord. And I hope that you will be prepared for every good work and shine the light of Christ as a Christian student at church and a student who studies hard at school. Also, I hope that you will nail the cross of love and slander and unite with Christian students to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.