2 Timothy 2: 20-21
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
My favorite place to be has always been our home. No matter where my husband and I have lived—and we have moved at least twenty times during our almost 59 years of marriage—home is where I love to be. Our current house, situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Shenandoah Valley, provides us with ample space to host gatherings for family, neighbors, and friends. For us, it’s a sanctuary from the darkness of the outside world, offering a place of rest, refreshment, nourishment, comfort, and a space to serve others through hospitality.
Today’s verses from 2 Timothy speak to our spiritual home, but my husband and I were able to apply them to what we faced fifteen years ago when we purchased our current house. It was a torturous period of waiting before we were finally able to close the deal. We encountered several obstacles along the way: it was a “short” sale, which by no means meant “quick”; there was a nationwide mortgage crisis, causing delay after delay; and the owner was a very uncooperative seller. Finally, after nine long months, we signed the final papers, officially becoming the new owners. But there was someone else who would hold the title.
When we opened the door to our new home and stepped through, the first thing we did was to cleanse it of all that was dishonorable. You see, a Wiccan, another term for a witch, had owned the house. Without delay, we set about to dedicate it anew, cleansed and set apart, holy, useful to the Master of the house, for His glory. My husband and I, along with our realtor and her daughter, made our way around the house, anointing it with oil and praying over every single corner. By doing so, we officially transferred the title from the previous owner to the rightful owner, Jesus, and established its purpose, set apart for use by God. It was at that point that the house was “ready for every good work.”
Our experience of moving into our new home is akin to what happens when Jesus takes up residence in our hearts. Just as we prayed to rid our new home of all that dishonored Him, we must also pray and commit to ridding our hearts of all that is dishonorable so that we would be a vessel for honorable use, useful to Jesus. Tomorrow, in the final part of this series, we will look at how to do that in practical terms.
Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for making a home in our hearts. What a comfort it is to know that You choose to be there and never threaten to move out because of our behavior. Please reveal to us if there is anything dishonorable or unholy within. May our hearts always be useful to you, the Master, for every good work. For Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen.
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