Thoughtful Thurday: the Potter and the clay

Isaiah 64:8 (http://livininthelight.wordpress.com/page/2/)

If I am correct in this, most potters begin with a lump of clay.  But before they can mold it into anything, water must be added to make it the right consistency to be moldable.   Then, the clay must be centered perfectly on the pottery wheel, otherwise it will not turn out as desired.  The potter then begins to shape his clay.  This can be a long, rigorous, time-consuming process before the finished product can be turned into something of use.  Many times the clay does not turn into what the potter had intended for it to be.  Perhaps the clay didn't begin at the right consistency, or maybe there were some impurities in the clay - there could be many factors.  Sometimes the potter may even have to pound the clay back into a lump and all start over.  But with time, work, and patience, the clay can be shaped into a beautiful vessel. 

Know where this is going?  Yep, There's an anology! 

First, the Clay. It can be all types of consistencies and textures. Moist. Dry. Lumpy. Crumbly. Runny. Smooth. Watery. Stiff. Soft. Pliable...

We know that it begins out as a dry and stiff lump, and water must be added to make it moldable.  In our lives, we begin as dry, sinful clay.  God must add water to our lives before we can be shaped, and we must soak up this water.  God's water is His living Word.  And in His word, we can learn about the salvation He provides to each one of us. Yes, we can read it and we can know it.  But we have to apply it to be able to be shaped. 

 

First off, Reminder #1 to us: We begin as a lump. We are NOTHING without God, our Potterer.  

 

Reminder #2: God expects us to do our part - To follow and apply His Word.  We must water, and He will grant the increase (or in this case, the beautiful vessel).

 

Once the water is added, God pounds and kneads the clay until it is soft a pliable.  Sometimes this can be painful.  Tough.  Humbling.  But it's necessary inorder for the vessel to be molded.

 

Reminder #3: For God to work in our lives, we need to be soft and pliable Christians.

 

So where are you at today? Where am I? Am I a dry, stiff Christian. Unwilling to change in my ways?  Unwilling to obey God's Word and His will for my life? When I am seeking God's will, do I go with an open and willing heart, or with my mind already made up? Do I treat others in genuine love, or in a judgmental, harsh way?

Or maybe I'm a lumpy and moist Christian with parts that are soft and pliable, but when a lump comes, I don't take the time to smooth it out, instead I just move on and let the lump stay. 

Or maybe I'm a watered down, runny Christian, and I am willing to accept anything and everything, even if it doesn't match up completely to God's word.  Maybe I've let a little too much of the world into my life.  Or maybe I take God's word and adjust it to my liking, instead of how God meant for it to be.

 

Reminder #4: Be observant of our consistency of clay, and be willing to put forth the effort to become soft and pliable again, if that is not where we find ourselves.

 

It's also important that the clay is centered on the wheel, inorder for it to be shaped symmetrically.  The wheel is Christ.  In our lives, are we centered in Christ?  Is He our focus everyday, in every aspect of our lives?  Do we seek to be like Christ and to love like Christ? 

 

Reminder #5 Let's walk life with Christ at the center.  Focused, soley on Him.

 

Now look at Jeremiah 18:1-6.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

In this passage, God sent Jeremiah into a potter's shop.  There, he saw a potter working at his wheel, molding clay into a vessel.  But as he was working, something went wrong with the clay, and the potter had to start over making another vessel.  This time, the potter was satisfied.  God then reminds Jeremiah that He can and does hold the clay in his hand just as the potter was holding and molding the vessel. 

Reminder #6:  God holds us in His hands. 

It's also important to notice that the potter didn't just fling the clay aside, and mark it as useless when it didn't go as planned.  Instead, he started over, re-molded and shaped it, worked with it until he was satisfied.  That's exactly how God is with us. Sometimes we find ourselves struggling - emotionally, spriritually, physically.  Sometimes we forget our focus and veer off on the wrong path.  Or sometimes, we may even develop cracks in our vessel.  But Praise the Lord that He is willing to aid us and He will carry us through those times in our life if we continue to trust Him.  And if we require re-shaping, God is willing if we have the right heart.

Reminder #7: God is a loving, merciful God.  He will never leave us or forsake us.

Think of all of the people that God is molding, shaping, and re-shaping daily.  He is continually shaping His people.  That's how much He loves us.  His desire for us is to be in Heaven with Him, and He will work with us constantly to help us reach Heaven.  But, we must remember that a soft, and pliable heart is necessary to allow the Potter to shape us into the beautifully, unique, and Godly vessels He has prepared for us.

Let us be thankful and Praising God that we are in His hands.  OUR LIVES are in the hands of an Almighty, All-knowing, and All-seeing God!! 

*God put it on my heart one night to look into the meaning behind the Potter and the clay.  It's been a great refocus for me, so I thought I would share it. Would love to hear your comments and encouragement!  My goal is to do a weekly "thoughtful thursday" to help me keep my focus on Spiritual things, but I won't make any promises...