Clay in the potter’s hands

Then the LORD gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would. Jeremiah 18:5-10 God looks for those who will allow Him to shape them into the persons He requires to do His divine work. If we cooperate and submit to His leading, He can make us the person He wants us to be. From the text, clay has no plans of its own, no aspirations for service, or reluctance to perform its given task. But when the clay is submissive to the will of the potter, it becomes moldable, flexible, and totally usable to its Master’s purpose. God’s comparison of believers to clay in the hands of the potter is very significant. If they let Him do what He intends for the clay to be formed, they can become vessels for His use so He can bless others. And if they refuse, He will deal drastically and lovingly admonish them so He can use them effectively for the purpose He set out to accomplish in their lives. We are free to choose God’s will for our lives. But once we make God the Lord of life, He should be supreme over us so we can live up to the purpose He had for us. God’s assignments demand that we submit willingly. He wants vessels that are clean so if He needs to remove the impurities in life, He will remove them. There are times that we cannot understand His purpose but once we accept the fact that we are in His hands, be assured that no matter how difficult and painful He molds us, it will still be for our benefit. There will be times that we can frustrate the purpose of God gets accomplished in our lives. But God is patient molding us and will not let go of us. Instead He gives us a second chance so we can experience once again His grace. God is not limited working through us using just our strengths. He would rather want us to be honest about our weakness for in it, we manifest His strength. ““My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Instead of telling God what He can and cannot do, submit to His will and allow Him to shape you to the person He wants you to be.

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com