2 Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 

These words written by the Apostle Paul to young Timothy make it clear that the strongest of Christians will never know sinless perfection on this side of the Resurrection. The enemy attacks, causing problems in everyone’s life, which can only be overcome by faith in Christ and His Sacrifice on the Cross to defeat sin in our lives.

In Verse 21 he writes, Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. The King James translation uses the word “purge” instead of “cleanses.” In either case, it’s obvious we are able to seek the Holy Spirit for the cleansing and purging necessary to prepare us for the good work God has for us to do.

The Holy Spirit is quick to convict our hearts of our wrongdoings. He is our Teacher, Counselor, and Guide and will lead us into all righteousness if we are willing to receive His wise counsel, guidance, and direction.  

Christians know immediately when they have committed a sin. Some call this a guilty conscience, but these feelings are the call of the Lord for our repentance. Our failure to repent is the result of the enemy fighting for us to remain in sin and not walk in obedience to God. The evil spirits of stubbornness, defiance, and deceit are quick to rise up within us and make excuses why it's not our fault and we don’t need to repent.  In times like this, we are a vessel of wood and clay operating in dishonor to God.

Obedience to the Voice and Conviction of the Holy Spirit is the Way to Righteousness and continued Sanctification making us a vessel of gold and silver honorable to God. The Lord will bring conviction to our hearts, but it is up to us to act in obedience and cleanse ourselves. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself,  he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 

If your house is dirty, it will not clean itself. You, the occupant of the house, must get in and do the work. Even a dirty house has good things inside. However, when the dirt outweighs the clean, little good can be done there.

God has a Plan and purpose for your life. His Plan is not to harm you but to prosper you and bring you hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11) but you must be willing to do the housekeeping and be obedient to the Holy Spirit as He reveals to you those areas of your life which need cleaning up.

The goal is to be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. There is nothing quite like a clean house!

Only God can……..turn the tide

Cleaning house,      Doreen

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