Just a Plastic Dishpan

Thursday   12-10-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    2 Tim  1 – 4  

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  2 Tim 2:19-21  Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness.  In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.  If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose.  NLT

O.  Paul is leaving the scene and is handing the baton to his protégé who will run the next lap of this race.  He has suffered from some who have pretended to be Christians, but who have disappointed him for their lack of integrity.  They have brought disgrace to the name of Christ.  He insists that Timothy keeps himself pure... like a utensil always clean and ready to fulfill God’ purposes.

A.  Paul says that some utensils are made of gold and silver, some of wood and clay... and I shall add... some of expensive crystal and others of cheap plastic. 

Frances and I were driving at night on a lonely Patagonian desert road when suddenly a tire exploded into flames on our fifth wheel mobile home.  I pulled off the road and emptied our two fire extinguishers on it, but it continued to burn with fury.  Frances ran inside and found a large plastic dishpan, filled it with water and rushed it to me.  She did this repeatedly until the fire was extinguished.  Frances had some beautiful crystal in those display cabinets... yet it was a cheap, plastic dishpan along with her bravery and quick thinking that saved us.

P.  Lord, let me be just the right utensil for Your divine purposes.  I don’t ask to sit on a shelf and decorate the house, adding a little class to the place.  Your Word tells me that “...we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”  (2 Cor 4:7 NIV)  Some of Your wonderful servants shine like polished silver and they bring much honor to You.  I thank You, Lord, for each of them.  But just let me be a plastic dishpan if that is what You need to extinguish the enemy’s attempts to slow the progress of the spread of Your Gospel and further the expansion of Your kingdom.  Amen.

Ralph