God Wants to Use You: A Chosen Vessel

Are you critical of yourself? Do you seriously doubt that God can use you—even if He wanted to?

I have news for you today: You are a chosen vessel.

The Bible talks a lot about literal vessels in the Old Testament, which were set apart for special use in the house of the Lord.

But in the New Testament, Christians are described as chosen vessels.

If you are born again by receiving Christ Jesus as your Savior, then you are one of God’s chosen vessels.

Yes, you.

Let’s look at some characteristics that you possess, as a chosen vessel.

A chosen vessel has been created for a specific purpose.

Did you know that you were God’s idea—created with a specific purpose in mind?

It’s easy to lose sight of that, in a world that is insistent on telling us what our purpose should be.

So many of the messages we receive from the world are that we must be good-looking, well-liked, successful—anything to make us look good for show.

This constant deluge of shallow and often impossible expectations, direct our focus onto our exterior.

We scramble to purchase the latest and greatest, and try to become the kind of person they say we should be—or we simply give up trying.

But in truth, even the most gorgeous, shapely, bejeweled, most-adored vessel—if it has no purpose—just sits on a shelf, empty and unused.

Admired, but unused.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

In this verse, God declares that His thoughts (plans) He has toward Jeremiah are to give him an “expected” end (outcome).

The Hebrew meaning of the word for “expected” literally means a cord, as an attachment. The root word of this word stresses a mind-set which keeps an expectant attitude.

Keeping your mind attached to God, while maintaining an attitude of expectancy—for His plans to play out in your life—frees you from the world’s shallow and impossible expectations.

With your focus and expectations on His purpose, you have real confidence, because you know that you are among His greatest possessions.

Keeping this mindset and attitude also makes yourself available to your maker, so that His intentions for your life—and purpose for your being—may be fully carried out.

So the next time a message is thrown at you—saying you should have something, do something or be something—ask God if this was His idea.

A chosen vessel can be used, even with flaws.

Are you marred and scarred? Have you been battered by the world, broken and glued back together?

Maybe you had some cracks, which are now blobbed over with obvious patches.

Repairs have left you lumpy and bumpy—and you may find it hard to believe that God would use such an awkward-looking vessel.

But what you or others see as imperfections—God sees as promise.

Every lumpy place is a reminder of how He gently patched you up. They are special marks of His loving work on you, and His promise to keep you for Himself.

And these marks serve as a testimony to others of God’s love, and His faithfulness to work on a person.

Maybe you wish that you were made differently. But as it says in Isaiah,

“Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, what makest thou?” (Isaiah 45:9b)

You’ve got to trust that your Maker—the One who created the universe—knew what He was doing when He made you.

Got dents? Think of those as His fingerprints. Feeling lopsided? He calls that “oblique.”

One of the biggest pitfalls is when we compare ourselves to others—wishing we were more attractive and impressive.

The thing is, God wants to use you—and everything that you are—for His purposes, which He planned for you.

His purposes for you are not for the “beautiful people”—they are for you.

“Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee.”(Jeremiah 1:5a)

God planned out the prophet Jeremiah, and “knew” him—his strengths and weaknesses, qualities and imperfections—even before he was formed in the womb.

And He did the same for you.

God doesn’t create each of us to be like some superhero, without flaws and weaknesses. He strategically includes some thin places and weak spots.

Because it is through our weaknesses and flaws that His character and strength can shine through.

What we perceive as defects are actually His brilliant and planned marks of potential.

This way, Jesus Christ can present Himself to you—and to the world through you—as His perfection within you.

The next time you are critical or ashamed of who you are, remember that God had a smile on His face as He created you.

Especially when He made the weak spots.

A chosen vessel is filled.

Do you feel empty?

You were intentionally made that way—to feel empty inside—because you were designed to be filled.

You are a carrier of the Divine Substance.

The Substance within the vessel is infinitely more significant than the vessel itself—because the Divine Substance is the Life-Giver—with Life-giving properties.

The Samaritan woman at the well, described in John chapter 4, caught a glimpse of this revelation when Jesus said,

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

You can be filled to the brim with the Divine substance—this Living Water Jesus speaks of.

Your emptiness inside can be filled to the brim—but you must believe it, seek it, and allow it.

God will create the faith and desire for it—even if you don’t have it yet—when you simply ask.

Staying conscious of the fact that you are a carrier of the Life-giving, Living Water is essential for the fulfillment of your purpose—His purpose—for you.

A chosen vessel pours out.

A filled vessel is a good thing, but one that is being poured out is even better.

Some containers are intended for long-term storage of a substance, but a chosen vessel is not one of them.

A chosen vessel doesn’t just sit on a shelf in a closet somewhere—it is frequently handled, moved, lifted, tipped and set in place on a family table.

It is used in every day service, doing what it was designed to do: pour out, be refilled, and pour out again.

A vessel filled to overflowing isn’t the best use of its potential, either. God doesn’t want a stationary vessel with a haphazard spillage all over the place. God’s chosen vessels are used for specific, intentional, and targeted pouring.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

The only thing a vessel can do on its own is to simply exist, and be available. Besides this, it’s purpose is completely dependent on the actions of its Owner.

The life of a chosen vessel is not passive—yet, the vessel itself must be passive in order to be used. It can’t pour, move, or even come up with the idea on its own.

That keeps the vessel from taking any credit for itself, when it is used mightily for life-changing purposes.

Do you feel useless? Ask God to set you in place, put you into position, and be poured out—for His purposes, and not your own.

A chosen vessel is holy.

Do you wish that you could be holy for God?

If you believe that Christ Jesus died for your sin—and you have received His work of salvation—you are holy.

A holy vessel is special, unlike other vessels. But nothing about its outward appearance identifies a chosen vessel to the world. In fact, those who do not know any better are easily fooled by Holy-looking people.

Only the Lord Himself knows which vessels are holy—set apart for Him—as He is the one who purchased them.

Our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, puts every chosen vessel through the following process:

Every chosen vessel is sanctified (pronounced clean) by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, through His saving and redeeming work on the cross.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

After the initial pronouncement, the Lord puts every chosen vessel through the continual process of purifying and cleansing. This is done repeatedly throughout the life of the vessel.

Every Holy vessel is consecrated (set apart) for Holy purposes.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Timothy 2:19-20)

We tend to think that God does everything for us, but we have a part to play in this too.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

Being a chosen vessel is a tremendous responsibility.

There is a way you must “possess” (take charge of, and maintain) yourself, as a Chosen Vessel, that brings honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is how:

Submit to the continual process of purifying and cleansing by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is done through the act of repentance—the confession of, and turning away from, all that does not please Him.

Acknowledge daily that you are holy—through the saving and cleansing work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You—chosen one—are holy. Make the decision to separate yourself from sin. Consecrate yourself—set yourself, and your own will, aside—for His Purposes.

The Hebrew words for “consecration” mean “an open hand” and “to fill.”

Open the hand of your heart to God in gratitude, praise and worship—and ask Him to fill it with His Holy purpose.

You are chosen, and you are more—so much more—than you ever knew you could be. Your life holds promise and purpose beyond what you could ever imagine.

You are His possession—for His purposes—and for His honor.

In the Master’s hand, you were planned and designed. You are restored, repaired and maintained. You are washed and cleansed. You are lifted up and put in position. You are filled and poured out.

Keep your eyes on your Master. Trust Him in the process. Believe in His intentions.

Can you sense His purposes for you?

 

 

Are You Broken? You’re God’s First Choice.