vessels

As Christ followers, the church is responsible for how we represent God. It isn't a simple task, but people's futures and hopes are on our backs. The great thing is, we don't have to do the heavy lifting. Jesus lives in us, therefore we have the privilege of owning the greatest job in the world. His plan is to basically carry us through it while we honor and glorify Him. We are a vessel unto the greatest King, and how we are used depends on our willingness and vision. Jesus is seen through the people of God who spend time with Him, extol Him, and love others. John 13 has been hitting me lately. Verses 34 and 35 say, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." The word love is used four times, so I'd consider it important. Our compassion and love is a mighty tool that can be used for magnifying Jesus; love and compassion are not weaknesses or vulnerabilities. This love is seen and shines best when we are willing to be servants, that is, get on our knees and be willing to scrub people's feet (also in John 13). God uses us just as He did Jesus...he was a vessel. Jesus was God in the flesh. We are Jesus' descendants; that's a big deal to me. Jesus lives in us.
God uses His faithful church in countless ways, and usually we do not pay attention to it. In other words Jesus cannot help but come out of us, to others, when we interact. God is an "all consuming fire" (Hebrews 12), and He wants all of us. As He takes over our lives, we get the honor of experiencing Him, and other believers will be driven by this passion as well. Although we are empty handed as vessels, we are most definitely not forsaken.