the Fourth Week of Advent
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Bible Dictionaries
Service: Preparations for
Spurgeon's Illustration Collection
or
'Methought I looked and saw the Master standing, and at his feet lay an earthen vessel. It was not broken, not unfitted for service, yet there it lay, powerless and useless, until he took it up. He held it awhile, and I saw that he was filling it, and anon, I beheld him walking in his garden, whither he had 'gone down to gather lilies.' The earthen vessel was yet again in his hand, and with it he watered his beauteous plants, and caused their odours to be shed forth yet more abundantly. Then I said to myself, 'Sorrowing Christian, hush! hush! peace, be still! thou art this earthen vessel; powerless, it is true, yet not broken, still fit for the Master's use. Sometimes thou mayst be laid aside altogether from active service, and the question may arise, what is the Master doing with me now? Then may a voice speak to thine inmost heart, 'he is filling the vessel, yes, only filling it ready for use.' Dost thou ask in what manner? Nay, be silent. Is it not all too great an honour for thee to be used by him at all? Be content, whether thou art employed in watering the lilies, or in washing the feet of the saints.' Truly, it is a matter of small moment. Enough, surely enough, for an earthen vessel to be in the Master's hands, and employed in the Master's service.'
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Spurgeon, Charles. Entry for 'Service: Preparations for'. Spurgeon's Illustration Collection. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fff/s/service-preparations-for.html. 1870.
