Chapter three: Vessels

In this chapter, I was struck over and over again by the word "vessel." Murray speaks about Christ as an empty vessel who saw His power, will, glory, mission, works and teaching as nothing save the fact that he had given them to His Father to work in them as He willed. The chapter continues on to say that all true virtue, grace, faith and acceptable worship must be rooted in this truth. We too are empty vessels to be used by God. I decided to take this word, vessel, and sit with it awhile, thinking on its different uses in our vocabulary and throughout the Bible.

Hollow tubes throughout our body, blood vessels are connected to their source of blood, the heart. Due to their empty nature, they can transport blood necessary for the life and health of our bodies.

Carrying freight and passengers across the ocean, vessels are boats that are useful due to their shape and ability to contain the things on board needing to be transported.

A potter takes clay to create a vessel for the purpose that he desires. God has created us and calls those of us who are redeemed "vessels of mercy" who are to know the riches of His glory (Romans 9:19-24)

Throughout the Old Testament, vessels were connected to holiness and atonement. Birds killed for sacrifice were placed into vessels in order that blood was shed for atonement (Leviticus 14). Many times, vessels of bronze, gold and silver were called holy and set apart for the treasuries in the house of the Lord (1 Samuel 4, 1 Kings 7). Elisha told a widow to gather oil into vessels and then sell the oil that her debts would be paid (2 Kings 4). Even Moses would sprinkle blood onto the vessels used in worship for purification and forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:15-22)

The word vessel is a rich word, and of course when we understand Christ as the ultimate vessel, who emptied himself, saw His Heavenly Father as His Source, carried our sins, and ultimately died for the forgiveness of those sins and our holiness, we ought to desire to empty ourselves, recognizing that we are but a vessel made by the Potter to be used for his purposes. My prayer is that I more fully understand this beautiful picture of humility that my life might become an empty vessel for His glory.