In what ways can we allow God to mold us like clay? Stepping into the Potter’s House “So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel.” (Jeremiah 18:3) Jeremiah watches a craftsman press, spin, and reshape raw clay—an everyday scene God uses to picture His sovereign work in our lives. What It Means to Be Clay • God is the undisputed Potter; we are the work of His hands (Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:20-21). • Clay has no agenda of its own; its purpose is discovered as the potter forms it (2 Timothy 2:21). • Even imperfections do not thwart the Potter; He re-forms the same lump into something useful and beautiful (Jeremiah 18:4). Ways to Stay Moldable in God’s Hands • Immerse your heart in Scripture – “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word...” (Matthew 4:4) – Daily reading keeps the clay moist and workable. • Choose humility over self-will – “Humble yourselves... under God’s mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:6). – Pride stiffens; humility softens. • Welcome the Spirit’s conviction – “Search me, O God... see if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). – Quick confession is like adding water to drying clay. • Submit to life’s pressures – Trials are the Potter’s fingers shaping character (James 1:2-4). – Pressure that seems harsh is producing Christlike contours. • Embrace loving discipline – “God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10-11). – Discipline removes lumps the wheel cannot smooth. • Stay in close fellowship – “Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). – Community keeps us centered on the wheel. • Serve in practical obedience – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). – Obedience stretches the clay into new, useful shapes. • Trust the Potter’s design – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5-6). – Surrender trades anxiety for the steady rhythm of His wheel. Guarding Against Hardening • Prolonged neglect of prayer and Scripture dries the heart. • Bitterness forms cracks; practice forgiveness early (Ephesians 4:31-32). • Persistent sin calcifies; repent promptly to stay pliable (1 John 1:9). The Beauty of a Finished Vessel • “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God” (2 Corinthians 4:7). • The Potter’s goal: vessels that display His glory, carry His gospel, and stand strong in service. Our part is simply to remain soft, yielded, and centered on His wheel until the work is done. |
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