We Are Chosen Vessels

Acts 9:15 – “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.”

Paul had been traveling to Damascus to continue his persecution of Christians when he met the Lord and was converted to faith in Christ. God instructed Ananias to go to Paul and to let Paul know that He had a very special place for him in His work. The Lord said of Paul, “he is a chosen vessel unto me.” What a testimony this is to the grace of God, that someone as contrary to the Christian faith as Paul, was chosen to be a vessel for God. It is equally true to say that we are vessels for the Master’s use. God has a purpose for each of our lives. He desires to use each of us in His service.

It is such an uplifting truth to know that God has a specific will for us. This is especially encouraging when we realize that, like Paul, we all have been guilty of rejecting Christ or His will. This is a great boost to our sense of personal significance and purpose. God has chosen us to serve Him. Of course, we understand that God’s will is not the same for everyone. We should also understand that our greatest satisfaction or fulfillment comes from knowing that we are doing that which God wants us to do.

Ananias informed Paul that God had chosen him to “bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” He took the message of salvation through Jesus’ death and the grace of God to those who had never heard. God used Paul, as He had used few others, to impact cities and continents with the truth of God’s grace. None of us would compare ourselves to the Apostle Paul, but we have the same God and the same promises. He wants to use us as well. We are not all called to go to other nations, but we are all chosen and commanded to witness and tell others of salvation.

We should keep in mind that the most important thing about the vessel is not the vessel itself, but that which the vessel contains. As God’s vessels, we contain the Spirit of God, Who indwells us and transforms us, as well as the Word of God that teaches us. It is our privilege and responsibility to faithfully carry the Gospel of God’s grace to others.