Man Being a Vessel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rom 9:21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay
to make out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and
another unto dishonor? (23) In order that He might make known
the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He had
before prepared unto glory.
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure [Jesus Christ] in earthen
vessels....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Romans 9:21 discloses God's purpose in creating man. This
verse is unique in its revelation of God's purpose in the
creation of man. Without this verse it would be difficult for
us to realize that God's purpose in creating man was to make
him His vessel to contain Him. We all must thoroughly
understand that we are God's containers and that God is our
content. We are earthen vessels, and God is the treasure and
the content.

God's selection has a goal-to have many vessels to contain
God and to express Him eternally. God created us in such a
way that we are able to take Him into us and contain Him as
our life and life supply, to the end that we be one with Him
to express what He is and that He be glorified in us and with
us. This is the eternal goal of God's selection. It is also
our eternal destiny.

This portion of the Word also unfolds the climax of our
usefulness to God, which is not to be used by Him as
servants, priests, and kings, but as vessels to contain Him
and express Him. If we are to be used as God's vessels,
surely He has to be one with us. We are His container and His
expression; He is our content and our life. He lives in us
that we may live by Him. He and we, we and He, eventually
will be one both in life and in nature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible
and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee. Life-study of Romans,
pp. 263-265. Both are published by Living Stream
Ministry, Anaheim, CA. (Repeat 10/12/98)