“In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for honor, some for dishonor. If any one purifies himself from the latter, then he will be a vessel for honor, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work. So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies/speculations (ζητήσεις); you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents in meekness (ἐν πραΰτητι). God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Tim 2: 20-26)
Some of us are “vessels” for honor, and some for dishonor, in our Lord’s “great house,” according to our own choice. It’s perplexing, perhaps, that our Lord also has vessels “for dishonor” in His house, – but I must say, I am grateful that He doesn’t simply dispose of us, the “dishonorable” vessels, particularly at those times when I happen to be one of them.
In any event, I ask myself, which will I be today?
It’s not an easy choice, in our Internet-culture of “stupid, senseless controversies,” which can be so… stupidly tempting, in the moment. (Right? Or is that only me). But let me tell myself what the Apostle tells me today; to grow up, and avoid “youthful passions” in the divisive spirit of our modern-day internet-culture. Just for today, at least, let me “shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace,” and “not be quarrelsome” in my interactions online. Let me re-connect with my all-knowing, all-merciful God this morning, before I re-connect with everyone else online, in some alone-time with Him, so that I may be “consecrated and useful to the Master of the house,” – of my “house,” which I would like to consecrate to God today. Lord, forgive us our debts today, as we forgive our debtors, in the grace of Your meekness, that we may communicate in You, and with You in the picture. Amen!
