Some members of Vallejo International Baptist Church recently had the privilege of joining the Napa Mass Feeding Unit of the CSB Disaster Relief Ministries. The unit’s task was to prepare food for earthquake victims and Red Cross staff of the shelters set up in Napa and Vallejo. For me, it was the very first time to be part of this specific type of ministry. It was more like an on-the-job training, learning some aspects of the feeding ministry as we did our work.
Since I was not specifically trained for the cooking aspect of the task, my main task had to do with washing the pots, pans, and other utensils. And I had the opportunity to observe the diligence with which the team followed specific rules concerning sanitation. For example, it was not enough for us to wash the utensils with soap and water. Every single utensil also had to be properly sanitized—soaked for at least 10 seconds with a bleach solution (with the right proportion of bleach and warm water)—before they were ready to be used again. This was to ensure that no unnecessary contamination would get into the food and cause health problems for those who would eat it.
As I was recalling that experience, I was reminded of how the apostle Paul uses the image of household vessels and utensils as a picture of those who serve the Lord Jesus. In particular, he writes: “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2.21 ESV).
Just as it was necessary for the utensils to be properly sanitized for use in the feeding ministry, so too must the Lord’s servants be properly cleansed for the Lord’s work in the world. The gospel ministry is about feeding the world with the Bread of Life. It is imperative that the vessel through which the gospel is offered be properly cleansed so as not to contaminate the message.
Vessels that the Master uses will be in constant need of cleansing. We will always be exposed to circumstances that could lead to choices and actions that contaminate us with sin. That is why we are urged to cleanse ourselves “from what is dishonorable.” And the Lord has provided a sanitizing process: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9 NIV). Then we will be properly sanitized for service, useful to the Master.
—Keith Y. Jainga