Vessels.

Some might say I am an avid coffee drinker; the term “coffee snob” may even apply. What can I say, I like a good cup-a-joe! Drinking coffee can be a pricey pastime, so I decided to finally give my home espresso machine a good cleaning and get it fired up for some at-home caffeinated goodness. 

First, I prepared the right mixture of water and vinegar to run through the machine. During this cycle there were some strange noises, some difficulty in water flow, and sometimes it stopped and I needed to reset the machine in order to continue. Next the directions told me to run cool, fresh water through the system to flush anything else out so it would be ready to do the job it was designed to do: brew delicious espresso. 

It’s funny how the Lord speaks sometimes. While I was preparing my espresso machine, He reminded me of the life that comes through His refreshing, renewing, repurposing living water. My espresso machine is a vessel through which water runs in order to create a special kind of coffee. And we are called to be vessels through which the Holy Spirit can flow to do the work our Father has purposed us to do. 

“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. 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.

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:20-22)

The Lord calls us to be cleansed from what is “dishonorable” or what is not of Him. But this is not something we can take care of on our own. 

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior...” (Titus 3:4-6)

God has already cleansed and purified us through Christ’s blood on the cross. He has made his bride holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word (Eph. 5). We just need to be in continual pursuit of intimacy with Christ, inviting a fresh flow of the Holy Spirit through us, who will refresh us, renew us, and repurpose us for His work, and through the process of relationship, the Father will show his faithfulness, mercy, patience, lovingkindness and perfect will for our lives.