Preparations There may be a well-known restaurant that has plenty of raving reviews for its food. Still, no matter the quality of the menu, if your experience there includes plates and glasses that didn’t get the same level of preparation as the food, you will probably not be recommending it to your close friends. Somehow a water stain on a glass or a bit of residue on a plate can turn a savory creation into something to be rejected. When preparing for the substance to be ingested, the containers will be critical to the overall presentation and reception of what is offered. There is no better preparation than the One we’ve been assigned to present to a world in need of life’s sustenance. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and it’s only through Him that anyone will access the presence of God. As good as He is, however, the vessels that carry His glory also need preparations that are worthy of Him. The untouched residue of the world and behaviors that tarnish His image may very well disable the reception of the greatest savoring they would ever know. This preparation of the vessels is something that is done by the Word and the Spirit, but they must be faithfully submitted to for cleansing and transformation. The removal of the world’s identity for the new one in Christ is essential preparation for the sharing of the Bread of Life. With every revelation of who we’ve become in Him will be equipping for a well-prepared presentation of Jesus in newness of life. Notes The purity of the vessel is essential for what it is carrying. 2 Timothy 2:20-25 (NLT) 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Prepared for what? 2 Corinthians 5:20 (TLB) 20 We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God. How is our vessel cleansed/prepared to carry the Glory? The truth of our identity cleanses from the old residue Titus 3:4-5 (NLT) 4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Our preparation for compelling others- displaying Jesus. Philemon 1:6 (TLB) 6 And I pray that as you share your faith with others it will grip their lives too, as they see the wealth of good things in you that come from Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 (AMPC) 6 [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory]. Philemon 1:6 (KJV) 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Every thought is to be impacted by the reality of Christ in us. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (AMPC) 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), In revelation of the new is preparation to present Him well 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 (NLT) 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Overview: What we have received in Christ is the way to know and live real life. To live in its victory ourselves, we have to be cleansed from the stains of the old. By receiving this new life we also become Christ’s representatives/ambassadors, carriers of His goodness. For Him to be received and transformed through us as His vessels, we must be prepared/cleansed. We are cleansed by the Word and the Spirit as our identity is transformed by the Truth. Prayer: Father, I praise You for Your great power that brought me out of darkness and into Your light. I desire to be prepared as Your vessel of honor to carry and present Your goodness to a world still in darkness. Declarations: Christ has taken all that I was to the death it deserved and raised me to new life together with Him. Though there are remnants of the old life that has passed, they are cleansed from me as I receive the Truth about who I’ve been made to be in Him. As I have received this new life, I now effectively carry and present it as a vessel, cleansed and prepared for my Master’s use. Many will know and glorify God as Christ is clearly seen in this vessel.