Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Chosen Vessel

UV 712/10,000 The Chosen Vessel “Then he said, “ The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.” Acts 22 v 14 Saul the Jewish zealot was chosen by God and transformed into St Paul, the one apostle who is most influential after Peter. About Paul, contemporary people wrote that he was ineffectual in his speech but powerful in his writing. He became a pen in God’s hands to write the various epistles to the early church that continue to instruct us in this day and time. He had not chosen God. He was only following the tradition that he had been taught by his elders. He perceived the growth of the “ new way” of faith in the risen Christ a threat to the Jewish faith. Hence, he sincerely and zealously led the violent crusade against it. If any one should have been chosen as an apostle, he should have been the least favoured by God. Yet, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob chose him to be a vessel to fulfil His will to carry hope to all nations, then and now. In doing so he was only helping to fulfil the very promise of hope made to our “ fathers of faith” - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Abraham had the promise of progeny, Isaac-the promise of production and productivity, Jacob- the promise of salvation. Abraham knew, saw and heard God as a friend, Isaac as a provider and Jacob as a redeemer. We human beings tend to get distracted by goals such as the pursuit of our individual, familial and collective happiness. When we recognize that we are nothing but a vessel to be filled with the joy, wisdom and hope of God, then we will fulfil His will. Even if there are cracks in the vessel in terms of our personal flaws, faults and failings, the Lord will either seal or heal it from within or allow the joy, wisdom and hope to leak through to others. St Paul must have grieved deeply the pain and persecution he caused to the followers of the risen Saviour. But, God used even that deep crack in his vessel to add to the power of his conviction and ministry. He now worked with redoubled vigour and zeal to make up for his past. Ananias led by the Holy Spirit told Paul that he had only three objectives before him for the rest of his life: to know the will of God, to experience the justice and goodness of God first hand through his own eyes and not those of his forefathers and to hear and adhere to the voice of the Shepherd. Paul was called to be a witness to the world even as each of us is called to be a witness of saving grace by faith. What is necessary to qualify as a witness? There are some similarities and differences between a legal witness in a crime case and a spiritual witness of Truth with a capital T. A spiritual witness speaks about the good things God has done in his or her life while a legal witness speaks of the crime he or she happened to witness. A spiritual witness speaks not just about what one has seen or heard but what he or she has experienced of God. A legal witness just happened to be there when an event happened. But, a spiritual witness is chosen - God chooses the person, the time and the circumstances. One should know or speak the truth or the facts that he or she has experienced, seen and heard. We get to know the will of God by studying the scripture. We get to see God by walking close to Him rather than walking away from Him. We get to hear His voice by spending time in prayer and being sensitive and responsive to the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are now qualified to do all the things that God has appointed us to do, to be a witness for Him to all nations and people, both kings and commoners for all have a need and a dream to live forever. Prateep V Philip Listen to this Blessong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJConD4UJRA

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