The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. from The Resurrection United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 10 October 2015 - "Our part in becoming a 'special bowl'”
Daily Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words:
“The Lord knows his own,”[2 Timothy 2:19 Numbers 16:5; Nahum 1:7]
and,
“Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord
stand apart from wrongdoing.”[2 Timothy 2:19 Numbers 16:26]
20 In a large house there are dishes and pots not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. That is, some are meant for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 If a person keeps himself free of defilement by the latter, he will be a vessel set aside for honorable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work. 22 So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace. 23 But stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies — you know that they lead to fights, 24 and a slave of the Lord shouldn’t fight. On the contrary, he should be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and not resentful when mistreated. 25 Also he should be gentle as he corrects his opponents. For God may perhaps grant them the opportunity to turn from their sins, acquire full knowledge of the truth, 26 come to their senses and escape the trap of the Adversary, after having been captured alive by him to do his will.
Reflection Questions:
In this passage, Paul didn’t describe everyone as a “clay pot.” Instead, he used the image of different kinds of dishes. He called on Timothy to “wash filth” out of his life, to become a “special bowl.” The “filth” he warned about wasn’t card playing, intemperance or even immorality. Timothy was facing false teachers who thrived on contentious debate, and Paul several times warned him not to share their spirit. Paul knew we can proclaim the gospel strongly while loving and respecting others, even when we disagree. So he called on Timothy to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace together with those who confess the Lord with a clean heart.”- All of our actions and attitudes influence others. The way we go through the grocery store checkout line, spend time with loved ones or talk with co-workers or other church members all reflect how we are responding to God’s choosing and call. How can your relationship with God reshape the effect you have on those around you? How are you cultivating the good qualities listed in verses 22 and 23?
O God, make me a “special bowl,” one you can depend on to serve a useful function as you keep building your kingdom. Use me each day for your purposes. Amen.
Family Activity:
By reading Scripture, we learn how to live and serve like Jesus did. Decorate a box with markers, crayons, sequins, and pictures. Write some favorite Bible verses on colorful strips of paper and place them in the box. (The Book of Psalms contains many verses of praise and thanksgiving as well as promises from God.) Once a week, possibly at mealtime, pull a strip from the box and share the passage aloud. Ask older children and youth to also find it in the Bible. Read it aloud together every day and encourage each person to memorize it. Also encourage each person to share the Scriptures with others. Thank God for the gift of Jesus and the opportunity to be filled with and share God’s Word.Insights from Dave Robertson
Dave Robertson is the Director of Community Life at The Church of the Resurrection’s West Campus.
Did your parents have special things in your house growing up that you knew were not for you and were not used often? We had “special” items and a “special” place. Many of these items were in this place.
The place we called the Living Room. There wasn’t much living in the Living Room. Our Family Room is where we gathered for television and bumper pool games. The Living Room was set aside for special guests. My parents would host other grown-ups there after church sometimes, or if guests came over for dinner. It was very formal and clean and it was to remain so. This space belonged to my parents and wasn’t for me or my brother or sister.
My mother kept her “play pretties” there. These things were not expensive but held great personal value for her. This was her place for her things, which were a reflection of her inner character and personality. I remember as a 2nd or 3rd grader playing football throughout the house–I threw the football up in the air, caught it and ran. Except, this one time, I didn’t catch it. The ball landed on a table with one of my mother’s statuettes made to resemble small flowers. One of the glass flowers broke in two pieces. I was greatly disturbed, not just because it was in the Living Room, but because it was hers, this woman who poured out her love lavishly. What could I do? I quickly found where the glue was and began to glue it back together. To the mind of a 2nd or 3rd grade boy, I thought, “It worked!” As I began to pretend to walk by it casually and look, I could see it was broken, but not badly. Maybe no one would notice.
My mother never spoke of it to me. Not because she never noticed, but because her inner beauty wasn’t defined by play pretties, but by Christ who dwelled in her heart. She pursued “righteousness, faith, love, and peace together with those who confess the Lord with a clean heart.” She loved lavishly because that’s how God loves.
The word holy literally means set apart. Do you have things or places in your homes set apart? More importantly, do you see your life as set apart for God, knowing you were created for a special purpose, to live in the kingdom of God and serve God and others in ways that point to his kingdom?
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Did your parents have special things in your house growing up that you knew were not for you and were not used often? We had “special” items and a “special” place. Many of these items were in this place.
The place we called the Living Room. There wasn’t much living in the Living Room. Our Family Room is where we gathered for television and bumper pool games. The Living Room was set aside for special guests. My parents would host other grown-ups there after church sometimes, or if guests came over for dinner. It was very formal and clean and it was to remain so. This space belonged to my parents and wasn’t for me or my brother or sister.
My mother kept her “play pretties” there. These things were not expensive but held great personal value for her. This was her place for her things, which were a reflection of her inner character and personality. I remember as a 2nd or 3rd grader playing football throughout the house–I threw the football up in the air, caught it and ran. Except, this one time, I didn’t catch it. The ball landed on a table with one of my mother’s statuettes made to resemble small flowers. One of the glass flowers broke in two pieces. I was greatly disturbed, not just because it was in the Living Room, but because it was hers, this woman who poured out her love lavishly. What could I do? I quickly found where the glue was and began to glue it back together. To the mind of a 2nd or 3rd grade boy, I thought, “It worked!” As I began to pretend to walk by it casually and look, I could see it was broken, but not badly. Maybe no one would notice.
My mother never spoke of it to me. Not because she never noticed, but because her inner beauty wasn’t defined by play pretties, but by Christ who dwelled in her heart. She pursued “righteousness, faith, love, and peace together with those who confess the Lord with a clean heart.” She loved lavishly because that’s how God loves.
The word holy literally means set apart. Do you have things or places in your homes set apart? More importantly, do you see your life as set apart for God, knowing you were created for a special purpose, to live in the kingdom of God and serve God and others in ways that point to his kingdom?
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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