"Now David came to Nob, to Ahimilech the priest....So David said to Ahimilech the priest, 'The king has ordered me on some business...Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.' And the priest answered David and said, 'There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.' Then David answered the priest, and said to him, 'Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.' "
I Samuel 21:1a, 2a, 3 -5
What makes something holy? An object is only made holy or unholy in the way it is used. We call it the "Holy Bible," but the pages are mere common paper. The Book is not inherently holy, only in its use. We take "Holy Communion," but the juice is common grape juice and the bread is only bread. There is nothing special about the juice and bread. They are holy only as they are used for communion – set apart for that use. I am mere flesh and blood consisting of common atoms and molecules. The only thing that makes me holy is that I am set apart for the master's use. I think this is what Paul was saying when he wrote, "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. 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" (II Timothy 2:20-21). Being made of silver or gold, wood or clay is not the issue. The important thing is what the vessels are used for. Even though my vessel is made of clay, I want to be holy – set apart to be used by God.
Today's Thought: A vessel is not inherently holy; it is only holy as it is used by and for God.
Have a holy day. Love you.
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