clay lump speed whirling pressure
impression shaping carve
band stop glaze
fire rest use
Is this a picture of your spiritual life? Has the Master Potter spent considerable time and effort on your vessel? Do you know for what purpose you were created?
Wikipedia has this definition: Pottery is made by forming clay into objects of a required shape and heating them to high temperatures in a kiln or oven to induce reactions that lead to permanent changes including increasing their strength and setting their shape.
Wow - did you just grasp what that said? Christ is forming us [clay] into objects of a certain shape and purpose [of His choosing] and heating us to induce reactions [purifying us] that lead to permanent change [new creation] in order to increase our strength and permanent use [for His Glory].
Our Potter determines what material, what shape, what purpose, and what prominence we have in His Kingdom. We are clay formed from the dust of this world into a vessel of honor for our Potter’s honor and glory. Ephesians 2:10 declare, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”
In his devotional My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers says this concerning our vision of what our reality should be according to our own inclination:
“We always have visions, before a thing is made real…God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way… Let Him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don’t lose heart in the process.”
Chapter 18 in the book of Jeremiah contains the famous passage of the potter and the clay. Jeremiah was lamenting and admonishing Israel about their grievous sin and idolatry. He stood in the gates of Jerusalem proclaiming God’s words of warning to a stiff-necked people. During this time the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and said, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”
When Jeremiah visited his house he observed him making something at the wheel. Jeremiah says in verses 4-6, “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel?’”
When Jeremiah visited his house he observed him making something at the wheel. Jeremiah says in verses 4-6, “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel?’”
This pottery “factory” in Palestine (mentioned in Jeremiah 18) was in the Valley of Hinnom near the Potsherd Gate and near the tower of the furnaces or pottery kilns (Nehemiah 3:11; 12:38). Potter’s clay was made by “weathering” the dry native clay-dust or the wet stream-bank clay before treading it by foot for use in making cooking vessels and water pots. Often the clay was hand-kneaded several hours in order to remove all of the air bubbles before working with it on the wheel. After it dried to a leathery consistency, the vessel would be returned to the wheel for turning, cutting and paring off excess clay. It was then beautified with a variety of tools and techniques before having a “slip” coat for color or sheen. Finally, it was “fired” by heating it in an open fire or in a kiln and later removed for cooling.
In our marriages we must remember that our Potter created us to be unique. His process differs from one vessel to another. He knows just how to make us so we will fit into our particular family unit. Our clay may have been tread on for a longer period of time. Our kneading might have lasted a little longer than someone else. We may possess a different color or texture than the next vessel. We might have been whirled and whirled and stretched longer and harder. Maybe we were beveled or poked or intricately cut more than the others. Finally – just when we thought we couldn’t take one more second in that intense heat – we are removed. Now we wait… and wait… and wait as we sit and cool. Our Potter knows best.
God formed Adam from the “dust” in Genesis 2:7, and we are likened to the potter’s creation as found in Job 10:8-9, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.” And in Isaiah 29:16 we read of God’s reply to him saying, “Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of Him who made it, ‘He did not make me?’ Or shall the thing formed say of Him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding?’”
Paul makes a similar plea to the Romans in Chapter 9:20-21. He states, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” Who are we to complain or self-determine with what or how we will serve Him?
I have finally given up trying to analyze how I was formed and how I will be used. I am coming to peace with myself and my Potter. There are times when I simply don’t grasp His methods or timing. But this I know: as He was with the three Hebrew youth in the fiery furnace, so will the Lord be with you (Daniel 3:25).
Below is one of my favorite worship songs of all time - The Potter’s Hand by Darlene Zschech of Hillsong. One of the repeated lyrics is, “Take me; mold me; use me; fill me. I give my life to the Potter’s Hand.”
“Click on Play” and let it minister to you as you continue to browse online or work on your computer. It’s a magnificent outpouring of our love to the Master Potter…
Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
Visit http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com
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If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.
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