Word Count: 513

Contact Lynn Jacobs

Unapproved Container (Part 4)

by Lynn Jacobs  
9/06/2007 / Devotionals

"It is unlawful to dispense gasoline into an unapproved container." Those words caught my eye a few days ago as I was filling my gas tank. An "unapproved container" is not allowed to hold gasoline. Why not? And just what is an unapproved container? You would think that anything that didn't leak would be fine. Then I got to thinking about that for a few minutes and it began to make sense.

An unapproved container may not be suitable for various reasons: It might not be secure. If you pour gasoline into a container made of styrofoam, for example, it will eat holes through it, leak out, and not only will you have a huge mess on your hands but you will have no more gasoline in your container. Styrofoam is not a secure container. An unapproved container might be too small. If you dispense the gasoline into, let's say, a drinking cup, there won't be enough room to hold an amount that would be beneficial but only a few ounces.

Spiritually speaking, trying to allow the Holy Spirit to be poured into an "unapproved container" would bring similar results as with the gasoline. An unapproved, unconsecrated, unholy vessel cannot hold the power of the Holy Spirit. If our hearts and faith are weak, like the styrofoam, the Holy Spirit will not be secured in our vessel but we will allow His power to go right through us and leak out. We will be too weak to contain it. If our hearts have little room for the Holy Spirit, He will only be able to pour into us a small amount of His power, thus we will only have a small amount to pour out to a lost and hurting world.

We can ensure that we are approved containers by allowing sufficient room for the Holy Spirit in our lives, not filling our hearts and minds with too many other things, staying close to the Lord in relationship, keeping our focus upward and our faith intact, consecrating ourselves to God by separating ourselves from too many worldly pleasures that distract and take our focus off of God, thus being ready for the Holy Spirit at all times to fill and renew our spirits.

Are we unapproved containers? We should ask ourselves this question daily.
_______________

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)

"If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:21-22, NIV)
_______________

(c) 2008, by D. Lynn Jacobs.
Lynn is a Christian Life Coach and writer, with over 25 years of ministry and professional experience. She works with her clients in the areas of spiritual passion, values, goals, self-esteem, grief/loss, transitions, etc. http://www.christianlifecoach.webs.com

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Lynn Jacobs

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer