The Christian Youth: Take possession of your vessel

EXAM season is almost over and I am sure most of you are looking forward to resting during the festive season.
Let us not forget the purpose of this season. We are to give and be generous in every way possible.
Also as the year draws to an end take the time to look back and assess how well you have done in reference to your goals and obviously plan for next year. However also take the time to rest and recuperate, to relax and enjoy the holiday season.
In line with the festive season there is a verse that I came across that I feel is pertinent to the times.
When we are thanking God for keeping us throughout the year and we are looking forward to 2016, there will be many celebrations and parties.
We have office parties, school parties, family gatherings and church parties. Almost everyone will be doing their best to be a part of the festivities in one way or the other.
It is there that we tend to lose ourselves and before you know it, you have done something you regret. Some people over-eat, others party to the extent that they lose control and get into senseless arguments that can harm relationships (be they professional or family).
Others who will have been sober all year fall to the temptation of alcohol or substance abuse, some even end up engaging in immoral sexual practices. The worst is when people get too excited and we lose lives due to road accidents.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:4, Apostle Paul says, “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”
A vessel is an object used as a container. Obviously Paul here is referring to the body and he uses the metaphor of the body as a vessel.
What does your vessel contain? Sounds like a weird question I know but I am obviously not asking about your lungs and kidneys and so forth. For instance in 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul says, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own.”
In other words your vessel can contain the Holy Spirit of God. So I will ask you again what does your vessel contain?
Some people’s vessels are filled with anger, bitterness, lust, unforgiveness, sin, joy, peace, happiness, intellect … I hope you get the picture. Then we have the odd few who are literally empty vessels. In my opinion before we start talking about possessing your vessel you have to know what your vessel contains first.
That way you can know what to do with that vessel.
James 1:14 says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James was trying to say that what is within is the root or seed base for most if not all of the temptations that we face and sometimes succumb to.
What am I saying? You know what you did last Christmas or the last time you were in a festive mood. You know what weaknesses you have from a moral perspective and the temptations that you constantly face.
In fact for some of you reading this you can actually feel your vessel/body craving or anticipating some activity based upon your past experiences.
In 2 Timothy 2:20 Paul says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”
Take a critical look at yourself and be honest. This year have you been a vessel of honour or dishonour? This is the starting point to possessing your vessel. In scripture we find several instances where individuals failed to possess their vessels and it had negative implications.
Moses is a classic example. He got angry and killed an Egyptian and had to run away disgraced and fearful. Many years later his anger got the better of him again and he disobeyed God which resulted in him not being able to cross over into the promise land.
Noah got so excited that God had used him to save the family of man and creation that at
one time he got so drunk and caused his son Ham to dishonour him.
As a result Ham’s descendants became cursed because of the actions of Noah. David in 2 Samuel 11 was having a great time enjoying himself as king and he happened to see a woman bathing.
He failed to possess his vessel to the extent that he committed adultery with this married woman and killed her husband to cover the sin when she fell pregnant.
Take time today to look at your vessel. It’s your choice whether you become a vessel of honour or a vessel of dishonour.
You have come this far in the year. Your destiny and the plan of God for you is too great for you to not be wary of what is coming to tempt you in this season. Till next week, God bless.