Meant for protection and to preserve appearance. In time breaks down and becomes cracked and ugly, exposing the vulnerable corruptible surface underneath..
If I were the vessel needing protection it would look like this... I am vulnerable to the elements of this world. So I build a shell around myself to appear like I have my self together. Strong and beautiful and smart.
My shell breaks down by the beatings of life exposing the corrupt and true selfish underneath.. It needs to be scraped away fully exposing the under side for repair and maintenance... This is where dead things are removed and rough edges are sanded down healing salve/nourishing and rejuvenating is applied and then I can be covered with a true protectant, with Christ's lasting righteousness a covering of preservation and glory.. True beauty and strength and wisdom.
We can fool ourselves thinking we are good and right. That we have something figured out. Sometimes we don't even know what lies underneath our shells. Our father is faithful to expose the darkness and ugliness when we are willing to let him show us. He is also faithful to make us a clean and acceptable vessel that are good for much.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
Romans 12:1-3 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.12.1-3.nlt
“...as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”
Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.5.25-27.nlt
“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.”
2 Timothy 2:21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2ti.2.21.nlt
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