The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-11-19

d common clay from which Is made
the vessel fit for the Masters use
Such thought brings cheer and encour,
agement to the poorest and weakest Of
Jesus disciples. One may not possess
the gold and silver of splendid train
ing and abilities; one may not be the
gold or the silver that graces and beauti-
fles the conspicuous places, and that
fills the most prominent and impor-
tant positions. One may be only the
despised and unnoticed vessel Of wood
or of earth, and still be so clean ant
sanctifed that the Master as He
searches the shelves for vessels fit fol
His use will gladly take him and use
him. AS the Master passes to and frc
through His house. think of what may
meet His gaze. Shelves full Of ves-
sells; enough for all the worldwide
purposes Of God. The church is not
weak because Of lack of numbers
With the forces now marching under the
banner of the cross, Jesus could speedi-
ly win the world to Himself If those
forces were obedient to His will and re-
sponsive to His mighty power. AS the
Master passes through His house he sees
plenty of vessels. He finds there the
gold and the silver ones. How He longs
to use them. How much more could
be accomplished with them than with
the commoner vessels. How much the
world needs them. With eager hand He
reaches out and takes the gold and sill
yer vessel. He covets 1t for His service.
He has work for it to do. He looks
within. All! what is it that meets His
gaze? 1t is unclean. 1t is unfit for
use. Sadly He replaces this splendid
vessel and takes another to examine.
So owe the shelves He goes. The shad-
ows on His face deepen, the pain and
disappointment in His heart grow
more intense, until at last with a glad
cry way up on the top shelf out OF
sight and unnoticed and unknown He
discovers the common vessel of clay
which is purged and clean and fit for
use. He takes it down. He says: This
will do" And into that common YES
sci He pours His grace and power until
men, beholding, exclaim: Surely,
this man has been with Jesus"
DLENTY Of vessels, but what is the
L condition of those vessels? This
is the first question which must arise
between the one who would be used and
the Christ who longs to use. What is
the condition? Not the outward ap-
pearance, but the inward state. Not
what man beholds and knows, but what
ton Of the vessel? Is 1t clean or un-
The condition of that vessel is
the point which determines whether It
be used or cast aside. What is the
condition Of your heart and mine?
What is there that renders it unfit for
the Masters use? Let God direct and
conduct the search, and He will reveal
the smut and the dirt and uncleanness
which now renders you unfit for His
What is it that can render the
vessel unclean? Sin, you say, in its
manifold forms and degrees. Yes, such
uncleanness is readily recognized and
understood. You do not need to be told
that 1t is that secret sin, that %self-indul-
sence, that violation of the laws Of God
and man. But there is something else
besides the filth gathered by walking in
paths and receiving unholy
The dish upon the shelf may be
unfit for use, not because it has come
N contact with the foul or unclean
hing, not because it has been used for
purposes, but just simply be-
it has been allowed to stand IN
lsed upon the shelf until the dust has
it. 1t was put away clean and
wholesome, but now it is unusable be-
of the coating Of black dust. And
20 it may be with the Christian. He
nay be unclean from disuse. He may
lave lain upon the shelf of indiffer-
9nce and neglect so long that the dust
las c~ollected-the dust of prayerless-
less, the dust of no Bible reading, the
ust of neglected duty, the dust of Sab
,ath cas- and neglect Of church. And
the dust is there it must be cleaned
way.