The Potter And The Clay
1. Go Down To The Potter's House
We had a great Youth Jubilee back in July. Preachers from several neighboring states came and brought their young people. Many of the churches in our area also supported the meetings with their attendance, help with the meals, and financial support. The preaching and singing were uplifting to the youth and also to the older Christians, like me. I didn't get to hear all of Preacher Mike Soop's sermons on "The Potter And The Clay" during the week, but the ones that I did get to hear were an inspiration to me. This week I want to go with Jeremiah down to the potter's house and maybe we can hear what God has to tell us.
"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." (Jeremiah 18:1-2)
2. God Is The Potter
The Bible is filled with parables and parallels to help us understand God's Word. Simple things are used to help us understand deeper meanings and concepts that we find in the scriptures. The 23rd Psalm helps us understand that the Lord is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. As we begin our theme on "The Potter And The Clay" it is important that we know who are represented by the Potter and the clay. Let's begin with the Potter. If we look back to the beginning of creation we see that on the first day, "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) God said, "Let there be..." again and again and it was so. But God did not just speak man into existance. He formed man in His own image, as a potter forms the clay. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) God is the Potter. And we are the clay. "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." (Isaiah 64:8)
3. I Am The Clay
When our children were young we went camping by a lake and along the edge of the water there was clay. I pulled up a little and shaped it into a small bowl and put it next to our campfire to let it dry. When I was in elementary school we made a bowl in art class and I thought how much fun it would be to really make something of clay on the wheel. I never had the opportunity to use a wheel, and those two bowls are my only experiences as a potter. I am not a potter.
I am the clay. We saw in Isaiah 64:8 that God is the Potter, and we are the clay. "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." (Isaiah 64:8) Just as I dug that little bit of clay up at the water's edge, God lifted me up out of the miry clay. "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." (Psalm 40:2) I could not lift myself up, but Jesus did! I could not make myself a better person, but Jesus did. I was nothing until Jesus saved me. I was just a lump of clay, with no plan or purpose in life. I don't know how people live who think that life is just chance and luck. I have faith in God that He is in control of every aspect of my life and He is molding me and making me into the person He wants me to be. I'm not a finished vessel, but a work in the making. I am His workmanship, raised up out of the miry clay, through Jesus Christ my Savior.
"4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10)
4. The Worth Of The Clay
Only a potter sees the worth of the clay. If I had found diamonds or rare jewels by the bank of the lake people would have flocked to the area to mine for the rare treasures. Even though other campers may have found the clay before me, it was still there because no one saw any value in clay. It is like the dust and dirt of the earth. People may look at me and not see any value in me. But God sees us and loves us because we are living souls. As we read in Genesis 2:7, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." What value does the Potter place on the clay? He gave His Son to die so that we might live. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) What value do you place on your soul? "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26) Have you believed in Jesus and put your trust in Him? He is the only way of salvation and eternal life. What are you giving in exchange for your soul?
5. The Wedging Of The Clay
I have never worked very much with clay, so I had to do a little research about wedging the clay. Some describe it as a process similar to kneading dough to make bread. This can be done by placing your hands on the lump of clay, putting pressure down on the clay with your palms and rolling the clay. Reset your palms, add more pressure and roll the lump of clay, press and roll, press and roll. You will be able to find any pieces of leaves, twigs, or even hard bits of clay and remove them before you begin working on your vessel. Apparently it is also important to press all of the air pockets out of the clay. It may take quite a bit of pressure and time to make the clay pliable and useful. Does this sound familiar for our lives? Paul the Apostle knew what it was like to be under such pressure. "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:" (II Corinthians 1:8) The Potter may apply such pressure to remove bitterness, envy, pride, and such sinful things that clutter our lives. Sometimes going through trials can strengthen our faith, soften our hearts, and draw us closer to God. Encouragement from God's Word is found in I Peter 4:12-13. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." So, what can we do during these times in our lives? "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)
6. Being In The Center Of The Wheel
When Preacher Mike Soop spoke to the youth he set up a table with a small pottery wheel so he could illustrate some of the points of his message. During one of his illustrations he put the clay down on the wheel and it flew off to the side. When he plopped it down in the center of the wheel it turned round and round as the wheel was spinning. He explained that we need to be in the center of the wheel, or the center of God's will. In my daily reading today I read these verses in Colossians 1:9-11.
"9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"
There are some things that we can know about the center of God's will. Salvation (II Peter 3:9, Acts 1:8), Giving Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18), Living Holy and Clean (I Thessalonians 4:3), and Being Filled With The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18) are four things that we know are in the center of God's will.
I want to be in the center of God's will. I am currently praying about a situation where either choice I make may cause different consequences. I have been asking the Lord to guide me that I will know the right decision. I am seeking His will and praying that He will give me peace to know which direction to take. In the meantime I am trying to lean on this promise. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
7. Water And The Clay
My daughter took several pottery classes and she really enjoyed them and made some beautiful pieces. I asked her if water was added when the clay was put on the wheel and she told me that water was added not only in the beginning, but all through the process to keep the clay wet and pliable. A potter can't work with dry, hard clay. Let's look at "water" in the Bible. Water is used to represent the Word of God. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:26-27) When Jesus waited at the well in Samaria He knew that the woman who came to draw water was seeking for something that would satisfy her empty soul. Jesus explained to her that He is the living water and only He could fill her great thirst.
"10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:10-14)
We also see "living water" used to represent the Holy Spirit in John 7:37-39.
"37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Sometimes there are storms on the water, but Jesus has control even over those. He calmed the storm saying, "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39) and walked on the water. (Mark 6:48) Let Jesus wash away your sins and satisfy your thirst. Read your Bible often and let the Potter make you into a usable vessel for His glory. Have faith in Him and trust in Him when the storms of life come. I turn to the last chapter of God's Word for our closing verse... "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)
8. The Hands Of The Potter
The potter takes the lump of clay and sees the value it holds. He works to remove anything that isn't clay. He adds water to make the clay soft and workable. Then he uses a little pressure to put it in the center of the wheel. With his hands he begins to smooth the edges of the clay, as it spins round and round on the wheel. He molds the clay into the desired shape it needs to be for the vessel he has chosen. All during this process the potter keeps his hands on the clay. God sent this message to the Children of Israel in Jeremiah 18:6. "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." With God as our Potter, we can be sure that He keeps us in His hands, working in our lives to make us more like Christ. Even during hard times we can trust in the promise that we are safe and secure in The Potter's hands.
"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)
We don't always understand the pressure we are under while we are on the wheel. "Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." (John 13:7) We can't see how the Lord is working in our lives, molding us into His likeness, because His ways are so much higher than our ways. So we learn patience in the hands of our God, knowing that He has everything in control.
"6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:6-12)
9. Lifting The Clay To Form A Vessel
So far we have brought the clay to the wheel and the potter has shaped the outside edge with his hands as it turns on the wheel. Today we want to lift the sides of the clay and make a vessel, maybe a vase. So the potter places his fingers in the center of the clay and presses towards the outer side, lifting the clay upwards. The hands work together, one on the outside and the other on the inside, raising the clay and shaping it into the desired pot. Our Bible example is Lydia, in Acts 16:14-15. "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." The Lord opened her heart, and she was faithful to serve Him. To be a vessel of service for the Lord we need to open our eyes to salvation and open our hearts to The Potter, and He will lift us up out of the miry clay, and raise us up as He conforms us to His image.
10. When Things Go Wrong
Sometimes everything seems to be going great and we feel like we are in the center of God's will and we are working for the Lord and life is good. Then, something unexpected comes up, or pushes us down, and we sit in a daze trying to figure out what happened. We look at our new situation and we want to ask God, "Why?", but some people tell us not to question God, and we wonder what went wrong. I have been there and I want to tell you that sometimes we get marred on the wheel because of something we did. If God reveals that we have sin in our life then we can confess it and try to go forward. But there are also times when our vessel gets cracked and it wasn't anything we did. No matter how hard it is, we need to just keep trusting The Potter. The ninth chapter of John opens with a miracle that has always interested me.
"1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:1-3)
The man was born blind, yet the disciples asked if he, or his parents had sinned to cause his blindness. What sin could an unborn child do? Look at verse 3. Jesus makes it clear that sometimes things happen in our lives so that God can manifest His works through us. In the first chapter of Ruth, Naomi said, "... Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" (Ruth 1:20-21) Naomi thought God had let her down, but she was still on the wheel, and The Potter was not through working in her life.
"14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him." (Ruth 4:14-15)
11. Waiting
We often say, "I can't wait", but there are many things in life that we must wait for. I waited for the Lord to show me whom to marry. After our children were born we waited for them to learn to eat from the table. We waited for them to start school. They waited to get their drivers' licenses. Farmers plant the seed, and then they wait for the harvest. My daughter is expecting a baby in October, and she is waiting for the time to come. We also learn to wait as we spend time on the wheel as The Potter molds the clay. We can't always see what The Potter is doing in our lives, but we learn patience as we wait on the Lord.
I don't want to close without first mentioning the one thing that the Bible warns us not to wait on, and that is the most important decision we will ever make. "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (II Corinthians 6:2) "Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7) "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14) In Acts 24:25 we have the sad story of Felix. "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." The Bible is silent on whether Felix ever accepted Christ as his Savior. Don't wait to answer God's call of salvation, because you may never hear it again.
12. "Have Thine Own Way"
Do you like to sing? I like to sing happy songs when I am happy! I sing songs of praise to my Lord when I feel blessed. I often sing slow, sad songs when I am feeling melancholy. And I feel sorry for those people who do not like Christmas songs, because I can sing them the whole year through. All of these songs express my emotions, but when I am alone with God I am really touched by music. When I am in the car and I start thinking about all of God's blessings in my life I sing and cry and praise my Lord. Sometimes I am struggling with decisions, or problems, and I pray that God will guide me and I begin to softly sing... "Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay." As God speaks to my heart, my song continues in prayer, "Mold me and make me after Thy will; While I am waiting, yielded and still." This song was written around 1906 by Adelaide A. Pollard. The words carry us down to the potter's house with Jeremiah.
"3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 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.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 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." (Jeremiah 18:3-6)
Sometimes we all feel marred or broken. I am so glad that I can find peace in The Potter's hand as I trust Him to mold me and use me for His honor and glory.
13. "He Didn't Throw The Clay Away"
I am looking again at Jeremiah 18:4. "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." I have been sitting at my computer for the longest time, trying to write this devotional, and today the words just won't come. There is no good way to say that I fail. I stumble and I fall. But the Lord keeps working on this lump of clay, over and over. He lifts me up and sets my feet on solid ground. The angels that fell didn't get a second chance. ("For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;" II Peter 2:4) But the Lord forgives my sins. His mercy and grace deliver me. I am thankful that the Lord doesn't throw the clay away.
"He Didn't Throw The Clay Away" by Gene Reasoner
Empty and broken, I came back to Him
A vessel unworthy, so scarred with sin.
But He did not despair...He started over again
And I bless the day, He didn't throw the clay away.
Over and over, He molds me and makes me,
Into His likeness, He fashions the clay.
A vessel of honor, I am today,
All because Jesus didn't throw the clay away.
He is the Potter...I am the clay
And molded in His image, He wants me to stay.
Oh, but when I stumble...
When I fall...
When my vessel breaks,
He just picks up those pieces,
He does not throw the clay away...
Over and over, He molds me and makes me,
Into His likeness, He fashions the clay.
A vessel of honor, I am today,
All because Jesus didn't throw the clay away.
14. The Potter Knows The Clay
The message today is a simple one... The Potter knows the clay.
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10:14)
The message is an eternal one... The Potter knows the clay.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:14 and 27-28)
The message is a sure one... The Potter knows the clay.
"19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (II Timothy 2:19-21)
The message is a personal one... The Potter knows the clay.
"21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)
I want to share another song with you today. "The Potter Knows The Clay" was written by Marcia Henry and Allie Lapointe. I am so thankful that The Potter knows me!
"The Potter Knows The Clay"
I know you are going through the fire
Its getting hard to stand the heat
But even harder is the wondering
Is God’s hand still on me
Its lonely in the flame
When you’re counting days of pain
But the Potter knows the clay
How much pressure it can take
How many times around the wheel
‘Til there’s submission to His will
He’s planned a beautiful design
But it’ll take some fire and time
Its gonna be okay
‘Cause the Potter knows the clay
15. What Kind Of Vessels Are We?
In closing our devotions about The Potter and the clay we are looking at the different kinds of vessels. What kind of vessel are you? I am a vessel of mercy. "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:23-24) Because of God's great mercy He gave His only begotten Son to die for my sin. Not only His chosen Children of Israel, but also the Gentiles. I also want to be a vessel of honor. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour." (II Timothy 2:20) Another type of vessel we should work to be is a vessel of service for the Lord. "Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD." (I Chronicles 28:13) Most of all, let's strive to be holy vessels of God. "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD." (I Chronicles 22:19)
