Those who cleanse themselves…will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
As a guy, I love tools – love walking through major hardware stores looking at all the tools that can do so many cool things. If I’m working on a particular project, I know there’s a tool made for that to do just what I want it to do, and at that moment, it’s worth the price to buy it because it’s an instrument for a special purpose.
People in the hands of a master can also be prepared to do amazing things. I read about a piano competition that had 80,000 participants. People wondered who would win? Someone with flashy technique? A colorful personality? To the surprise of many, the winner was a 13-year-old by the name of Rosalyn Tureck.
Born in 1913, Tureck was considered mature beyond her years. She listened to her teachers and developed techniques passed down from masters through the generations. It was written that there was one particularly influential teacher who was “a stern taskmistress,” rarely giving compliments, but rather imparting wisdom and discipline. The result was evident for all to hear. Showing this influence, Tureck’s performances were particularly brilliant.
Even when she was young, they say Tureck had a magical touch, described as warm and intimate “with awesome control and articulation at the softest dynamics” – technically perfect but not mechanical. She was focused on the music, not herself.
As she continued to mature, she studied not just the music but the background of composers. Reading history, art, and philosophy she developed “a deeper understanding” that enriched her own “concepts and performance.” Even today, people are amazed at her natural approach that allows the composer’s concepts to shine. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-9mz-La58k)
The spiritual realm has parallels. There are people who try to draw attention to themselves and express their opinions. But others realize that the key is to submit to the Author. We need to be pure vessels, to study and dig into His truth, seek His insights, and allow His wisdom to flow in and through us and to be changed and transformed by Him.
The key is a pure life, one that is not filled with continual sin. Our Scripture says the Master has a special purpose for each one of us. But there is a catch. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto Christ. He can only use those who are cleansed, and that only happens when we confess our sin to Him (1 John 1:9). Then and only then will the Master pick us up as instruments for His special purpose and plan because we have been made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.