Be Useful Vessels of Honor

2 Timothy 2:20-22    
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

How we live matters; we are called by grace, not our own righteousness or perfection, yet we are held accountable in our sanctification to run towards holiness.  As the previous verse says, we are to leave sin behind as we close the door to our old life and walk through the one where we are named as Christ’s.   The examples here are of jars of clay in the master’s house.  We either are honorable or dishonorable, wooden or earthen, used for refuse and cleaning or for storing valuables or sustenance.  The exhortation here is to clean out the filth and make ourselves useful for the Master and His kingdom; we are to honor God by our sanctification, our pursuit of holiness, making ourselves ready for all the good He has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  This begins by running away from the lust of the flesh and running instead to catch hold of righteousness, trust in Christ alone, love for God and others, and peace with God by obedience and peace with others by looking out for their interests (Philippians 2:4).  This is what we who are called out from sin to Him must all do, and do all sincerely and as blamelessly as possible.  He cleansed our hearts and we are to keep them that way to be useful and well-pleasing servants as honorable vessels for His use as designed.