Purify Yourself

2 Timothy 2:20–21 (ESV) Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

The ball is in our court.  I think we can forget about that at times.  God does sanctify us but we have the responsibility to take part in that process as well. 

The word "if" here is a big one.  If you cleanse yourself from the things of this world, then you will be useful to the master.  So many see Christianity as a free ride to heaven.  It's more than getting to heaven.  It's about life here as God intended.  And there are people in the great house of God who have yet to experience God's best because they never clean their life.

Paul is talking to Timothy, a preacher.  He's saying you have a choice.  You can be an instrument of God that gets the common use or the an instrument of God that's for special use.  I want to be in that second category.  And I know in my own life that when certain sins have been dealt with, the ministry influence has grown. 

Notice too what Paul says in the next verse:
2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV) So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Get away from the junk that youth typically have in their hearts... pride, irreverence, arrogance, obstinance.  And then find some people who are going after the Lord and get with them.  It once again comes down to community.  As much as we need to avoid certain types of people who lead us and influence us wrongly pointing us toward "civilian affairs" there are also some who we need to pursue.  We need to get around those who are seeking the Lord out of a pure heart.

PRAYER:
Father, there is still a lot of work to be done in me.  And I need this reminder today.  I need to see the junk that I hold on to as holding me back from what you can do through my life.  Forgive me and help me to have the capacity and diligence necessary to cleanse myself.

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