THE CHILDREN AS VESSELS

We are all familiar with the everyday use of vessels for containing a large variety of things, and the vessels themselves are designed for their special purposes. It will be equally apparent to the believer that in the holy matter of the blessings and services of God there need to be vessels which are likewise designed for particular purposes. Of such are persons prepared for "every good work".

Scripture speaks of "small vessels as well as the vessels of cups", so that the youngest of us can be made use of to carry refreshment to others. In fact the preaching of the gospel is in one sense a search for vessels – earthen ones! – to receive in particular the Holy Spirit and to become such as can pour out "living water". As a sign of what divine power can do, John the baptist was filled with the Spirit from his very earliest days.

If we consider some of the young persons well written of in the Bible we find that they were vessels formed by the Potter to fill some special use. Miriam, for instance, was a vessel of care for one who was beautiful to God. We do not know what reward, if any, she received from Pharaoh's daughter for finding a nurse for Moses. But we do know that she was given by Jehovah a great part in 'nursing' His people in the wilderness. Later, David as a youth was a vessel of love in accordance with the meaning of his name. Not only was he attractive in his person, but his ways brought out the affections of others and even of unlikely persons. Scripture tells us that not only Jonathan, Michael and Saul's servants, as well as all Israel and Judah loved him, but also King Hiram and even King Saul at one time.

At a time of sickness in the house, the captive maid of Naaman's wife was a vessel of healing. Like the great Physician, she had no resentment against those whom, in the deep ways of God, she had to serve as bondmaid. It must have been a reward to her when her master returned from the river Jordan healed of his disease and then offered sacrifices to Jehovah. She could not go back to her own country but she would have seen some of her own homeland soil which her master brought back! Then in New Testament times Rhoda was a vessel of joy to a praying household. The voice of the apostle Peter at the door so filled her mind that she forgot to open the entry to him. Maybe she had been converted by Peter and had taken every opportunity of hearing his word. Although now dead he yet speaks to us in his epistles. Is it a joy to you to hear his voice?

J.C.Evershed