Effective vessel_Valuable Insights #6 Be an effective vessel for the Lord! “Summer Solstice”
Think about the summer season in North America. Each day, the noonday sun is rising higher and higher, keeping the skies brighter for longer until we are graced with the Summer Solstice. On this one day a year, our hemisphere will witness "Solstice" (derived from two Latin words: "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere," to cause to stand still). The noonday sun will seemingly stand still… shine longer and allow us to enjoy more time under the sunny skies.
I encourage each of us to meditate on the following verses and pursue our own ‘Summer Solstice’ this June. Let’s take time to be still and clear our consciences before God, to both strengthen our faith and bring joy before the Lord… and so shine bright before men and freely enjoy life.
A strong example of this chosen cleansing is lived out by Apostle Paul. He took pains, (labored, strived) to have a clear conscience, not only toward God but also toward people.
In Acts 24:16 he says, “So I (Paul) always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men.” RSV
1 Peter 3:16
“[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].” AMP
The Complete Word Study Dictionary explains Conscience to be a noun from suneídœ, “Conscience, to be one's own witness, one's own conscience coming forward as witness. It denotes an abiding consciousness whose nature it is to bear inner witness to one's own conduct in a moral sense.”
Thayer's Greek Lexicon connects conscience to “the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending the one, condemning the other.”
Insight:
How important is our conscience? If our conscience is rejected our faith will become shipwrecked. This leaves us vulnerable and unable to be used as effective vessels.
The dictionary definition for the word “Shipwreck” is, “a wrecked ship or its parts, the destruction or loss of a ship, an irretrievable loss or failure.”
1 Timothy 1:19
“By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith.” RSV
Insight:
How important is our faith? It takes faith to please God. Therefore, if our faith is shipwrecked we will not be able to please God. In the following translations of Hebrews 11:6, Paul’s words are clear as to say that God blesses those who believe and seek His face.
Insight:
Let us then take effort to destroy the dulling mask of sin(s) in our lives (like pushing away the dense fog) and reveal ourselves to God with a repentant heart. From this moment of forgiveness, newness and freedom, we can blaze forth in life with a clear conscience, knowing that we are pleasing to our Father God.
Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJV
Hebrews 11:6
“No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.” TEV
Hebrews 11:6
“You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.” TLB
Insight:
Become an effective sturdy cargo-ship for the Lord loaded with His word!
Click here. Not in vain_Valuable Insights 7 Our work for the Lord is not in vain