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Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday, May
10, 2023
Joshua
Tree National Park
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
"Vessels
Of Honor"
Message
summary:
May
He work His
power in each
of our lives
today, so that
we may be
vessels of
honor in
these, our
"earthen
vessels"!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"But
we have this
treasure in
earthen
vessels, so
that the
surpassing
greatness of
the power will
be of God and
not from
ourselves" (2
Corinthians
4:7). "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. Flee
also youthful
lusts; but
pursue
righteousness,
faith, love,
peace with
those who call
on the Lord
out of a pure
heart" (2
Timothy
2:20-22).
A
vessel of
honor for God,A
vessel of
honor for God,
Sanctified, holy, that I might be
A vessel of honor for God.
Sanctified, holy, that I might be
A vessel of honor for God.
Today's first verse uses a powerful image in describing our physical bodies: "We have this treasure in earthen vessels". The Precept Austin online commentary states, "The treasure is the creational, transforming power of the Gospel placed into followers of Christ pictured as lowly, even contemptible 'earthen vessels' (as judged by what the world values)."
Joni Eareckson Tada, paralyzed at 17 years of age in a diving accident writes,
"God
is a Master
Artist. And
there are
aspects of
your life and
character—good,
quality
things—he
wants others
to notice. So
without using
blatant tricks
or obvious
gimmicks, God
brings the
cool, dark
contrast of
suffering into
your life.
That contrast,
laid up
against the
golden
character of
Christ within
you, will draw
attention . .
. to Him.
Light against
darkness.
Beauty against
affliction.
Joy against
sorrow. A
sweet, patient
spirit against
pain and
disappointment—major
contrasts that
have a way of
attracting
notice. You
are the canvas
on which He
paints
glorious
truths,
sharing
beauty, and
inspiring
others. So
that people
might see
Him."
Incredibly, God stores this divine treasure in "earthen vessels". (The NIV states, "jars of clay"). What an interesting description of the outer man formed from the dust of the ground. The image is that of frailty and temporality. God often allows the vessel to be tested, worn, chipped, and sometimes broken, that the excellency and worth of the treasure and of the power which that treasure has, may be all His. Later in the chapter Paul expresses assurance even as he is making an honest assessment regarding his inevitable physical deterioration, "though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Let us consider the phrase, "the surpassing greatness of the power" in the daily text. Consider God's steadfast and ever sufficient power. It never wanes and is never in short supply. It is always adequate and sufficient for any situation we may face. This power is from God and not from us, so we needn't despair when we find ourselves weak, for that is when we are driven to depend on His strength.
Let us rejoice in God's marvelous provision of His all-surpassing power that is released in our lives today. Peter writes, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3). Even though there may be shortages and interruptions of electrical power and other sources of this world's power, we can be assured that God's almighty power is all-surpassing and far exceeds that of earthbound power. What a joy and peace today to rest in His all-powerful might and His tender loving care!
Remember this important truth today, fellow believer, in regard to the challenges you might be dealing with currently. God is at work in the lives of believers all around the world to advance His glory for "the grace that is reaching more and more people is causing thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15). May He work His power in each of our lives today, so that we may honor Him in these, our "earthen vessels"!
Incredibly, God stores this divine treasure in "earthen vessels". (The NIV states, "jars of clay"). What an interesting description of the outer man formed from the dust of the ground. The image is that of frailty and temporality. God often allows the vessel to be tested, worn, chipped, and sometimes broken, that the excellency and worth of the treasure and of the power which that treasure has, may be all His. Later in the chapter Paul expresses assurance even as he is making an honest assessment regarding his inevitable physical deterioration, "though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Let us consider the phrase, "the surpassing greatness of the power" in the daily text. Consider God's steadfast and ever sufficient power. It never wanes and is never in short supply. It is always adequate and sufficient for any situation we may face. This power is from God and not from us, so we needn't despair when we find ourselves weak, for that is when we are driven to depend on His strength.
Let us rejoice in God's marvelous provision of His all-surpassing power that is released in our lives today. Peter writes, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3). Even though there may be shortages and interruptions of electrical power and other sources of this world's power, we can be assured that God's almighty power is all-surpassing and far exceeds that of earthbound power. What a joy and peace today to rest in His all-powerful might and His tender loving care!
Remember this important truth today, fellow believer, in regard to the challenges you might be dealing with currently. God is at work in the lives of believers all around the world to advance His glory for "the grace that is reaching more and more people is causing thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15). May He work His power in each of our lives today, so that we may honor Him in these, our "earthen vessels"!
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer:
Father, it is
an irrefutable
spiritual
truth that the
human spirit
is renewed and
empowered day
by day because
Christ has
chosen to
store His
treasure
within us, His
earthen vessel
of clay. It is
because this
treasure is
stored within
us that we do
not lose hope
or give up our
faith when
adversity
strikes.
Instead we
show that this
all-surpassing
gift is from
You and not of
our own
origin. We are
more than
conquerors
through Christ
who loves us,
empowers us,
and sustains
us through the
testing,
wearing,
chipping, and
even the
brokenness of
our vessels of
clay! All
glory and
praise be to
God!
Amen.Study note: As we read the text today prior to the podcast reading this phrase from the 2nd daily text struck me: "a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work".
Another
interesting
Scripture
portion
related to
being God's
vessel is
found in
Romans
9:20-22: "On
the contrary,
who are you, O
man, who
answers back
to God? The
thing molded
will not say
to the molder,
'Why did you
make me like
this,' will
it? Or does
not the potter
have a right
over the clay,
to make from
the same lump
one vessel for
honorable use
and another
for common
use? What if
God, although
willing to
demonstrate
His wrath and
to make His
power known,
endured with
much patience
vessels of
wrath prepared
for
destruction?"
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Today
we will
feature photos
of our visit
to Joshua Tree
National Park
which we
visited last
week.
While
visiting
Joshua Tree
National Park
we took
several
shorter hikes
such as this
one through a
Cholla
cactus garden.
Stephen
learned the
hard way that
touching these
is not a good
thing! A sign
warned hikers,
but he saw it
a little too
late.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
What
do you suppose
this rock is
called? The
answer is here.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Brooksyne
walking
through a slot
canyon in
Joshua Tree
National Park.
However these
slot canyons
are not nearly
as remarkable
as those we
saw in Utah
several years
ago as seen in
this photo
or this photo.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
A
view from Keys
View, a high
point in the
park (5,185
feet) with two
snow covered
mountains in
the background
and an
eponymous
Joshua Tree in
the
foreground.
The park is
1,242 square
miles, larger
than the
entire state
of Rode Island
(1,214 square
miles).
However this
is much
smaller than
the largest
national park
in the
contiguous US
(lower 48
states). Do
you know what
park is the
largest?
(Answer is here)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
We
will share
more photos of
our visit to
southern
California in
the next
several days.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
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recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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