PAUL AS A VESSEL.
Paul delighted to call himself "a slave of Jesus Christ." The slave was at the disposal of his master, having no special interests of his own. The same thought comes out in the title of "vessel" given to Paul by the Lord Himself immediately after his conversion: "Go thy way, he is a chosen vessel unto Me." A vessel has no will of its own, but is open to be filled with anything or to be carried anywhere. Trace the history of Paul as a vessel. As-
I. An Unclean Vessel (Act_9:1-2). "Breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord." Full of self-will and hatred to the followers of Jesus. "A blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious." A cage of unclean birds. "Such were some of you, but ye are washed."
II. An Empty Vessel (Act_9:6). "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" His own plans and purposes are now abandoned. The Lord has turned him upside down and wiped him out as a vessel. It is a solemn crisis in one’s life when all our lofty thoughts and boasted virtues have to be poured out by the wayside as so much filth and refuse.
III. A Chosen Vessel. "He is a chosen vessel unto Me" (Act_9:15). "Chosen, not for good in me." Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us. Paul’s own testimony is, "It pleased God who called me by His grace" (Gal_1:15). This is according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." "By grace are ye saved" (Eph_2:8). God chooseth His own witnesses (Act_10:41).
IV. A Filled Vessel. "It pleased God to reveal His Son in me" (Gal_1:15-16). What a treasure, Christ in us. What a filling up of the emptied vessel. Filled up with all the fullness of God. And we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God (2Co_4:7). Chosen and filled with the treasures of His grace that he might bear His Name before the Gentiles. The vessel may be easily broken, but the precious contents cannot be stolen. "When I am weak, then am I strong" (2Co_12:10).
V. A Separated Vessel. "The Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (Act_13:2). The Holy Ghost here claims to have a share in the calling of Saul, and for the very definite purpose of being separated unto God for His specific work. He begins his letter to the Romans with: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, separated unto the Gospel of God." He reminds the Galatians that he is "an apostle, not of men, neither by man." This is the experience of every true servant of God. Do we know anything about this divine calling, and this holy, separated, purposeful life of God (Eph_4:17-24; Rom_12:1-2).
VI. An Honoured Vessel. "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness" (Act_26:16). We have but to glance along the life of the apostle to see how largely he did minister the grace of God, and how faithfully he witnessed to the power and Name of his risen Lord. He was honoured in opening the eyes of many, and turning them "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" (Act_26:18). A vessel filled with such riches is sure to be abundantly used of God in blessing poor and needy souls. An empty well has no attraction for the thirsty, there is nothing in it but disappointment.
VII. A Suffering Vessel. Although he could say, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," yet he adds, "We are troubled on every side, perplexed, persecuted, cast down, always bearing in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus" (2Co_4:7-10). In 2Co_9:22-23 he gives us a catalogue of his afflictions and perils. The vessels of God, bearing His Name in the midst of the rush and turmoil of this God-neglecting age, cannot expect to fare better than the Master Himself. It is a faithful saying, "If we suffer we shall also reign with Him" (2Ti_2:11-12). Just now God in grace is seeking to make known the riches of His glory in the vessels of mercy which he has prepared unto glory (Rom_9:21-23).
Autor: James Smith