Vessels of Honor ... and Dishonor (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

Today’s scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Vessels of honor … and vessels of dishonor.

We are all vessels created by God. He created each of us to serve and glorify Him. Some of us choose to do as He created and do “every good work.” We are vessels of honor, delighting our Master.

Others choose to do their own thing, live their own lives. And these are vessels of dishonor in the Master’s eyes.

I’ve been both. If you’ve followed this devotional for a while, you may have read that I spent twenty years on a quite meandering journey away from God. I made poor choices. I followed the world and allowed myself to be sucked in by its temporary pleasures. I was a dirty, useless vessel.

Then almost 23 years ago, I recommitted my life to God, and He cleansed that old vessel and began to use it. Over the years, I’ve sometimes allowed a little dirt to land, but I go immediately to the Lord, and He cleanses me again (1 John 1:9).

Our Lord God wants to use us. He invites us to participate in His kingdom-building plan and serve Him gladly. But He wants clean vessels. Ones He can honor and use with joy.

Are you a cleansed, honored vessel? If not, you can be. Just accept Jesus’ gift of cleansing salvation. Delight your Father, and be a part of His plan.

White as Snow (Psalm 85:1-3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 85:1-3

We are so deserving of God's wrath and anger. He who is perfect and without sin created man, and in grace and mercy, He gave him the choice to follow—or to turn away. Sin entered the world when man chose to turn away.

Sin is ugly, dark, and insidious. Sin creates a chasm between us and Holy God. Sin keeps us from seeking Him.

God has every right to be angry with sin ... and with us. Yet, He loves us so very much, He made a way for the ugly darkness of sin to be covered with the blood of His Son. Instead of seeing the blackness of sin, He sees us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

I hadn't thought about it when I chose this psalm, but it's a perfect reminder of why we celebrate this season. We celebrate the coming of the Son of God, the Lamb who came to save us from our sins. When this psalm was written, of course, Jesus hadn't yet come to earth, but there was still a means by which sin was covered by blood, the blood of a spotless lamb. How blessed we are to know the Lamb who paid the penalty for our sins.

We really are deserving of God's wrath and anger. But because of Jesus' sacrifice, which included coming to earth, taking on flesh, and living as a human, we are cleansed of sin.

And instead of wrath and anger, God showers us with love, grace, and mercy.

Amen.

A Clean Heart and a Steadfast Spirit... Every Day (Psalm 51:10)

Today's scripture: Psalm 51:10

As I meditated on today’s scripture, it struck me that I should pray this verse every day.

“Create in me a clean heart.”

This is a confession of sin. It’s a request for the Lord to thoroughly wash away the junk and reveal the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.

I need to pray every day for a renewed cleansing because, every day, I mess up. A prideful thought may enter my mind. An angry outburst at another driver may be uttered. A feeling of discontent may rest on my heart.

So every day, I need to ask God to “create in me a clean heart. And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

I looked up “steadfast,” and it’s defined as “firmly fixed in place; not subject to change” and a “firm belief, determination or adherence.” That’s what my faith needs to be: firmly fixed in place. I cannot waver. If I believe what I say I do, I must do so with a strength of conviction that nothing can sway.

This doesn’t mean I don’t question how God works. Or that sometimes I may still doubt. Or that I may not completely understand why things happen the way they do.

But through the questioning, the doubt, the lack of understanding, my faith remains strong. It will not change.

I pray for many things every day. My husband. My family. My friends. God’s will for my life. And now I want to pray for a steadfastness of spirit, for a firmly-fixed faith, and a clean heart ... every day.

These are requests I know God will answer “yes.”

Whiter Than Snow (Psalm 51:5-9)

Today's scripture: Psalm 51:5-9

The psalmist continues to express sorrow over his sin, but there’s also great hope in these verses.

First, look at the little gem in verse six: “in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” When we’re in relationship with God, the Holy Spirit is in us to illuminate the God’s word. We will learn how to make wise choices when we follow His word.

Second, we are sinful creatures. Dirty. Soiled. I know ... that doesn't sound very hopeful. However, with God’s cleansing, we are “whiter than snow” in His eyes. I love that illustration. Have you ever seen a fresh snowfall? I really believe there’s nothing quite so white and bright. That’s how God sees us!

Finally, in verse eight, the psalmist knows he’ll “hear joy and gladness” and that, even through the pain and trials, he’ll “rejoice.” We too can find joy because we’re children of God. Even when we suffer, even when we’re uncertain, we can be joyful. How? Joy isn’t an emotion, believe it or not. Joy is a state of mind in which we choose to rejoice no matter the circumstance.

Yes, we sin. Yes, we’re imperfect beings, but as children of God, we know He sees us as His beloved children. We are His sons or daughters.

In God, we are wise. In Him, we are whiter than snow. In Him, we can rejoice at all times.

Blameless (Psalm 51:1-4)

Today's scripture: Psalm 51:1-4

I really hope you're enjoying this "year in the psalms" as much as I am. For the next few days, we're going to revisit one of my favorites. This nineteen-verse psalm is full. Of conviction. Of affirmation. Of encouragement.

And it starts with conviction.

We are sinful, fleshly creatures. And when we sin, we do so against one Person only: our Sovereign Lord and Creator. He would well be within His rights to annihilate each and every one of us. However, He is merciful. He is loving. He is gracious. And He chooses to forgive us. He choose to “blot out” our sin and to “wash [us] thoroughly” and “cleanse” us from our sin.

It’s only because of His love for us and His mercy that we are “blameless” in His sight. One day He will judge every person who ever lived, and only those of us who are cleansed by His loving mercy and grace will spend eternity with Him.

Will you be “blameless” when you stand before Him? Will you be confident that your sins are indeed blotted out? Cleansed? Washed?

No matter what many are saying today (even those who call themselves Christians), the Bible makes it very clear. The only way to be sure is to believe in the one way, one truth, and one way to the Father, and that’s His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). If you don’t know this Jesus, read the book of John. You’ll meet Him and learn how to be in relationship with Him.

And then you too can be certain that God sees you as “blameless.”

Never-Remembered Sin (Psalm 25:6-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:6-7

I wasted so much of my youth. Because of abuse I experienced from ages nine to 16, I turned my back on the Lord. I chose my own path and did so much of which I'm not proud.

After I gave my life back to the Lord over 20 years ago, for several years, I would beat myself up for those lost years. After I began to truly meditate and study God's word (see yesterday's devotional for more about this topic!), He would give me "splashes of joy" that reminded me that I was forgiven—completely.

Verses like today's reminded me of God's "tender mercies and ... lovingkindnesses ..." Then, even better, He'd remind me that He doesn't "remember the sins of my youth ..." Elsewhere, I knew I could be confident: "How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!" (CEV, Psalm 103:12).

Sometimes, the enemy of our souls wants to drag us down and make us wallow in our sins, even those made years ago. This is not the heart of our Father. He promises that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (NKJV, 1 John 1:9).

Our Savior died as a "once-for-all" sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. All He asks is that we "go and sin no more" (NKJV, John 8:11).

Praise God for His mercy and grace ... and thank Him that He remembers our sin no more.