Sacrifices: Part 6, Vessel Of Honor Series

II. Vessels of Honor

One of the things that I hear most often is that we should be able to live and have fun. God does not mind if I go to the clubs to dance and hang with friends. God does not mind if I gamble every now and then. God does not mind if I never pick up my bible as long as I come to Church. God does not mind ____________. You fill in the blank from your life experiences. Those things that we struggle most with giving up as a sacrifice in our service to God are the same things that we justify hanging on to. But I want to direct your attention to something Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy. Turn to the second chapter and look at verses one through four. “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Paul was encouraging Timothy. He told him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. He was reminding Timothy that he was not alone nor what he to rely on his own strength. Timothy as a young pastor quickly became aware of what he was facing, both from his congregation and from within. When Paul encouraged him to be strong in the grace that lies in Christ, he was reminding Timothy that surely we can do things through Christ that we could not do without Him. He was also reminding Timothy that while some look upon us and may focus on our failures and weaknesses, through the grace that lies within Christ, we are able to move beyond them. Now jump down to verse four. Here is an analogy that Paul wanted cemented in the mind of Timothy. When a soldier enlists into the armed forces the armed forces become primary in his life and everyday life becomes secondary. I remember when I was on active duty in the Air Force you did not complain about “family responsibilities” because to quote the military: “We did not tell you to get married!” You knew once you signed on the solid line that the call to duty comes before family, friends and everything else in your life. This is the point that Paul was making to Timothy – that a soldier does not focus on everyday life when he becomes a soldier, but what is important to the person he is serving. The spiritual implication is that once you sign on in service to Christ, that out weighs everyday living. The choices you would make on a normal basis as someone not in service to Christ is different from the choices you make when you enter into His service. The everyday world and those things of the world, become secondary to your service to Christ. Now let’s look at verses five and six. “Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.” In these two examples, the point Paul is making is that the dedicated efforts are what is rewarded. You cannot half do something and expect to be rewarded for it. You cannot live with one foot in the world and the other with Christ and expect to be rewarded. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.