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I own three water pitchers. The first two are ceramic. They are pretty, but really fragile. For this reason, these two water pitchers are solely for display. The third one is not ceramic like the other two. It is also not fragile. In fact, it has a number of scratches and dents from use over the years. None of these imperfections limit its use. Whenever I need a water pitcher, the third one is the one I reach for. The third pitcher is the one I use.

As I think of my three water pitchers, I can’t help but be reminded of how years ago I would always pray for God to use me. While today I still do ask to be used, in many ways back then I was still living a life influenced by my old sinful nature. Admittedly, there were some areas of my life that I wasn’t really all that committed to change. If I fell to temptation, I consoled myself by saying that “I am only human, God understands”. Despite all of this, while I prayed to be used, I never quite thought of the bigger and more important question. That is, did God see me as usable?

In 2 Timothy 2:20-21, the Apostle Paul writes: Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.

The purging or cleansing referred to in 2 Timothy 2:21 starts with God cleansing me of my sins and from all unrighteousness. As 1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (ESV). The process continues as I pursue holiness and separation unto God as a daily experience.

As believers we have to be disciplined about doing those things that draw us closer to God. Things like studying and meditating on scriptures, spending time alone with God, praying, and fasting, just to name a few.

In Romans 12:1 the Apostle Paul says: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. I came to learn that being a living sacrifice means that I give up what I used to tightly hold on to – my will, my way, my wants, my desires. Laying aside all of these is not easy or even possible without being intentional about surrendering to God.

All believers should desire to be used by God. Even more, we should live the experience of actually being used by God.

Consider then, which of my three water pitchers best represents you. Are you one of the two ceramic water pitchers that are just for decorative purposes? Or are you that water pitcher – that vessel unto honor – that God can and actually does use?

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Except where indicated above, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all Public Domain.