Delores Liesner
Activating Faith in everyday life
Who Am I In Christ? #7 – His Vessel
I am His Vessel
The first question I used to ask was what’s the difference between this example of who we are in 
Christ – a vessel – and the last, a temple.
Last time you saw how we become a temple when Christ comes into our lives – a place where Christ resides. The vessel contains the temple.
So the vessel is our body? Yes – it is of the earth, as explained in Genesis – God made us of the earth, and yet because God made us it is so much more.
We are compared to an earthenware vessel that was MADE, PREPARED, DESIGNED, CREATED by the Master Creator to be used in His service.
I have been made, prepared, designed, created to know Christ, to be His Temple, and to be useful in His service.
I would venture that most of God’s creation has experienced the verse from Isaiah 45:9 saying if only…you had made me…prettier, smarter, more talented, whatever. Moses is probably the best-known example from scripture of someone who felt that God had created his vessel with an inadequacy: Remember what he said? Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past…
I know I too have pleaded with God – no, not that, I am not made for that, I cannot do that. Anything but that.
Othertimes I’ve foolishly looked at other vessels and thought, oh, if only that were my situation. I had a friend who knew there was nothing she could change about her vessel, and focused on her home…always dreaming that if she found the perfect home, her life would change. Media today amplifies that natural-man-argument with our creator saying don’t be satisfied with who and what you are..change! Change your hair, or your cosmetics, or your shoes, or your investments and you can be who you want to be.
Wouldn’t we rather be who God wants us to be. Who and what He designed us to be.
Complete and fulfilled for the Master’s use.
Is. 45:9 “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker —
An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!
Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’
Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?
Rom. 9:21 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?
I am earthen. I am clay. I’ve been prepared as a vessel for the Master’s use.
Some days are hard. I want to cry about my insecurities like Moses. I want to whine at my frailty as Patty Clairmont put it, I’m broken, cracked, so am I useless? But I come face to face with Paul telling me, along with the church at Corinth:
1Th. 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
Possess my vessel? Possess means to overtake it – to dominate, control
And, he says, I know how to do it
In sanctification – set apart for God’s use. A “small” thing like pouring out water to feed …the animals, or rinsing off dirt from muddy feet…a “big” thing like bringing refreshment to important guests, or being used for a special occasion
And
In honor – What greater honor could there be than to be a child of God – to be IN CHRIST, and to be submitted to the creator for the opportunity to somehow bring Him glory
Is there a distinction with God according to what he calls us to be or to do? Romans 9:21 says not. Only the earthen see the differences. ALL vessels are equally honored when used by the Master.
I’ve experienced God speaking through me, filling in where I am inadequate. I’ve known God to do amazing things through me that I would never have dreamed of doing on my own, and I’ve had God promise in miraculous ways over and over that He chose me, created me as His vessel, and prepared His vessel to be of service to Him.
Janie Seltzer’s poem CLAY speaks to me:
Dizzy on the potter’s wheel, I reel –under the pressure of His hand.
Water splashes over me – I choke and gasp for air.
He cuts off softened chunks- Refines the shape- Remolds the inner core.
He whistles softly as He works.
I listen. . . to the soothing sound – and slowly learn
. . . Relax
And wait –
For the Sovereign shape
Imaged in His mind.
That’s YOU! That’s ME! What an honor.
Say it with me:
I am God’s vessel.
2 Comments on “Who Am I In Christ? #7 – His Vessel”
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Be the Miracle! – with journaling pages
Delores Liesner: Author
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
Delores Liesner 
Having thrown pots before (on the potter’s wheel, not across the room!), there is a definite understanding of the need for the clay to be pliable in the potter’s hands. Too much pressure (God turning a path in your life) applied to a too-dry (not willing to be changed/used) lump of clay causes the clay to literally rip and be destroyed; sometimes thrown across the room! There is no way to salvage what’s left; it must be removed and taken to the prep table, where it is again pummeled (to get all the air bubbles out) wedged (cut in half to make sure it is ready for the wheel) and re-centered on the wheel.
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Cyn – I was just re-reading your comment and it blessed me all over again. I’m wondering – is the wedge process to make sure there are no air bubbles yet or what does the potter do or look for after cutting the clay post-pummelling? I really like the imagery of re-centering. I know I get off-center when I’m not being pliable. Your comment reminds me of a talk done by a potter playing the character ‘Jesus’ in the passion play at Eureka Springs AK. It was powerful. I’d love to see a whole-process spiritual application of pottery making, and of your sculpting too. Lots of lessons there. Thanks again. D
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