But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8, ESV)
An old violin touched and tuned by the master's hand can play melodious music. In the same way, when the Master touches and tunes our lives he can then play "a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings."* This is what my Master means to me, he is transforming me into a glorious instrument. He is like a master potter who forms the clay, taking our lives of worthlessness and forming it into something valuable, good, and honorable for his use.
Touch Of The Master's Hand
"Now in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if any themselves cleansed from these [what is dishonorable] he exists a vessel for honor, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:20-21, ESV)
I take this to mean the great house is the Master's house and is filled with chosen vessels or instruments. Some were found as old and used, some were found young and new but all were chosen by the Master. Some are being used now to honor the Master, some are still being prepared for use. What makes a vessel honorable for his use? "if any are cleansed existing a vessel of honor, useful to the master, prepared for all good works, so flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call upon the Lord with a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:21-22). The vessel of the Master's house set apart holy for His use is the one cleansed, consecrated of heart to the Lord, the one the Potter has molded. In the eyes of God, he is great in the kingdom, though he may be unknown by men, he is an honorable vessel, with a heart consecrated which is precious more than gold and silver in the eyes of God.
In the great house, the difference between a usable vessel and one that is not is preparation. The one that is prepared for use is one that has been molded by the Potter. When the potter molds us, we become a vessel of His righteousness, a vessel fit for His use (Romans 6:13; 2 Timothy 2:21). If we are bought by the Master but then go out as if to do his work, without being prepared by the Master's hand we will be an instrument out of tune. But if we are His workmanship prepared beforehand for his use, will walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10). Tuned by the master's hand we will play "a melody pure and sweet" which is the same.
We can only do the Master's work having been tuned by the Master's hand. How can a lump of clay that has not been molded into a vessel be useful for anything? But if moldable in the hands of the Potter, it becomes a vessel for use, an instrument of his righteousness, playing melodious music that glorifies God. Truly, the great vessels in the house of God have cleansed themselves for honorable use, these are the vessels molded by the Potter, touched and tuned by the Master's hand.
[edited 1/15/2022]