The Potter Knows The Clay
1. We Are The Work Of His Hand
2. It’s Gonna Be Okay, Because The Potter Knows The Clay
3. God Knows How Hard We Try
4. “O LORD, Thou Hast Searched Me, And Known Me”
5. God Knows Our Needs And He Provides
6. God Knows The Value Of What We Give
7. God Knows My End
8. God Knows Our Tears
9. He Knows My Name
10. He Knows Every Language
11. God Knows The Outcome
12. God Knows My Heart
13. A Simple Message, Eternal, Sure, and Personal
14. The Greatest Prayer That Was Never Answered
15. Only God The Father Knows
1. We Are The Work Of His Hand
I finished up our last devotional theme, and as I drifted off to sleep I asked the Lord to show me which direction to take in the scriptures next. Sometimes I will find leading in my daily Bible reading or in messages I hear. There have been times when I found God speaking to me in something I saw or heard. This time it was through a song. I woke up and was singing in my heart, “The Potter Knows The Clay.” I wrote on “The Potter And The Clay” once before and talked about the process of the potter making the clay into something special. Isaiah 64:8 reminds us, “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.” Let’s look at some of things God knows about us.
2. It’s Gonna Be Okay, Because The Potter Knows The Clay
Marcia Henry and Allie Lapointe wrote this song and it reminds us that we are the clay, and sometimes we go through hard times as God molds us and makes us into His will. Even through trials and hard times, we are always in God’s hands.
“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)
"The Potter Knows The Clay"
I know you are going through the fire
It’s getting hard to stand the heat
But even harder is the wondering
Is God’s hand still on me
It’s 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
Friend I just came through that fire
Not too very long ago
And looking back I can see why
And that my God was in control
But on the hottest days I'd cry
Oh Lord, isn't it about time
3. God Knows How Hard We Try
When I think about beginning a new theme, I take a pen and paper and jot down verses and ideas I have for some of the new devotionals. I like to have at least seven so that I can write on them for the following week. I know that my God is omniscient and knows everything. When I started writing things that God knows about me, I soon had thirty things listed. I won’t try to use them all, but I am starting with the last item on my list. “My God knows how hard I try.” When I was in school I had a teacher that would give us our math homework and when someone would say that he didn’t understand how to do it, she would tell us to try, and we would go over it the next day. I would try… and I don’t know if I was old enough to know that she didn’t know how hard I really tried. Sometimes when things are hard it is easier to give up trying, than to keep working at it. Sometimes we try, and feel like we failed. It is during times like that, that I want to pray like Nehemiah, “Remember me, O my God, for good.” (Nehemiah 13:31) On those hot days this summer when I worked hard in the garden and started back up the hill to the house, I would turn and look at the garden, and give God thanks, and ask Him to bless my efforts. When I try to play a song on the piano at church and I mess up, I tell the Lord I am sorry, and I’m thankful that He knows how hard I try. Maybe Paul felt like this sometimes when he wrote, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) Don’t give up. Remember, God knows how hard we try.
4. “O LORD, Thou Hast Searched Me, And Known Me”
If I was to choose one chapter in the Bible that tells how much God knows us, it would be Psalm 139. In this Psalm David praises God for all that He knows about him. God knows when we sit down and when we get up. He not only knows all our ways, but he knows every word we speak. After naming a few things, David seems to be overwhelmed in the care and knowledge God takes for His child and says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psalm 139:6) Psalm 139 tells us that God knows us from the time we are formed in our mother’s womb. As you read the verses of the beginning of this Psalm, think about all the things God knows about you, and give Him all your praise.
“1 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:1-14)
5. God Knows Our Needs And He Provides
We all have needs. The price of everything seems to keep going up. Not just the big things that are extras in our life, but food and clothing and gasoline, things that we need every day. It may be hard not to worry about the things we need. We raised five children and sometimes money was low by the end of the month, but God always provided and we always had food to eat. God wants us to seek the things of God and let Him provide our needs. When the church at Philippi gave to those in need, Paul assured them, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Jesus told His followers, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) God knows our needs and He is able to provide.
“22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:22-31)
6. God Knows The Value Of What We Give
When I was a teen I noticed the fresh flowers in the church on Sundays. They were grown, and brought by a sweet elderly woman, Mrs. Linthicum. I went to her house one day and saw how the lovely plants surrounded her house, inside and out. She spent a lot of time and care, to take the flowers, and I don’t know if she ever got any recognition. But, she didn’t do it to be recognized. God had given her a gift and she was sharing it to add to the beauty of His house. We should not be giving to get glory. Jesus said, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:” (Matthew 6:3) He praised the widow who gave all she had, instead of those who cast in from their riches.
“1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” (Luke 21:1-4)
God sees the value of our giving, even if no one else does. And He will reward us in blessings. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)
7. God Knows My End
I often see Jeremiah 29:11 on bags, Bible covers, and other items for sale. It’s a wonderful verse that tells us that God knows our end. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” It is a great verse of promise from our God. I often wonder if people who claim this promise from the Lord know the context of this verse. Jeremiah’s prophecy is telling them how it will end after their 70 years of captivity. I am thankful for the promise God gives us of our end. I know that Jesus is preparing me a place in heaven. I know that I will be reunited with family and friends who have gone on before me. I know that all my pain and sorrow will be gone in heaven. All of these are wonderful things that I know according to God’s Holy Word. But, I am not promised a life without pain and sorrow here on earth. I am not promised that I won’t grieve over a loved one here on earth. Yes, I am thankful that I know that God knows my end, and it will be wonderful to spend eternity in heaven with my Lord. And He has promised to never leave me no matter what I may have to endure before my end comes.
“10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” (Jeremiah 29:
8. God Knows Our Tears
Have you ever cried until you couldn’t cry any longer? When David and his men returned to Ziklag and found that the Amalekites had burned the city and taken all their wives and children captive, they cried until they didn’t have the strength to cry anymore. “So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” (I Samuel 30:3-4) Jeremiah has been called the Weeping Prophet. “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jeremiah 9:1) Does God see our tears? He saw the tears of King Hezekiah. “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” (Isaiah 38:5) Is it okay to cry? Yes, we have the example of our Lord. Jesus knew that He would heal Lazarus, but He still cried with the people. “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) He also wept over Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41) God sees when we weep for the lost. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5) David knew that God saw his tears. “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” (Psalm 56:8-9) God knows all about our tears. And one day He is going to wipe away all our tears. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
9. He Knows My Name
Last Sunday I opened this devotional series on the song, “The Potter Knows The Clay”. Another song has been on my mind and I want to share it today, “He Knows My Name.” The song was written by Kelly and Annie McRae. Not only is our Lord and Savior the Potter and we are the clay, but He is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. And He calls us by name and leads us.
“1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10:1-4, 11&14)
“He Knows My Name”
“He counts the stars one and all
He knows how much sand is on the shore
He sees every sparrow that falls
He made the mountain and the seas
He's in control of everything
Of all creatures great and small
CHORUS
He knows my name
Every step that I take
Every move that I make
Every tear that I cry
And He knows my name
When I'm overwhelmed by the pain
And can't see the light of day
I know I'll be just fine
Cause He knows my name
I don't know what tomorrow will bring
I can't tell you what's in store
I don't know a lot of things
I don't have all the answers
To the questions of life
But I know in whom I believed
CHORUS
He knew who I was when he carried the cross
He knew that I would fail him but he took the loss”
10. He Knows Every Language
We kept three of our grandsons for a little while Friday. While we were in the car Nate said, “I wonder what language the people spoke before the tower of Babel.” I had never thought of that question before and it made me think of all the different languages in the world. Writings from the past have been found that people don’t even know what language it was written in. When I’m watching a movie and it has different lines in other languages I don’t know what they are saying. I took Spanish and French in high school and I couldn’t carry on a conversation in either language. One time years ago I dreamed that I was in heaven and when I thought of someone that person would be right in front of me, and we understood each other’s thoughts. We didn’t even have to use words. I don’t know if we will all speak the same language in heaven, or we will know the minds of one another. I do know that God knows what we are saying. And I know that God knows our thoughts. We saw that in Psalm 139:2, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” King David told his son, Solomon, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” (I Chronicles 28:9) Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” So our God knows what we are thinking even before we put it into words. That is wonderful to know because sometimes we can’t put our thoughts into words, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)
11. God Knows The Outcome
Do you ever feel impressed to pray for someone that you don’t even know? Maybe you see them in passing, as a speeding Ambulance, or an accident on the road? Or, maybe God leads you to hand someone a gospel tract? I don’t think we fully acknowledge the power of prayer and of God’s Word. There are a few people that I started praying for years ago and from time to time God brings them to my mind and I pray for them again. I don’t know where they are, or if they ever decided to follow Jesus in salvation, but God knows. God knows the outcome of every prayer. God knows the outcome of His Word. “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.” (Isaiah 55:11) We are to be faithful in telling others, and trust God with the outcome. Don’t quit praying, even if you don’t see the answer to your prayers. Keep giving out the gospel message in faith, that some of it will fall on good ground.
“5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:5-15)
12. God Knows My Heart
God knows my heart. When King Solomon prayed during the dedication of the temple he acknowledged that God is the only One who knows our heart. “Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)” (I Kings 8:39) He knows when my heart is broken. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) He knows when my heart is troubled.
“1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
God also knows when my heart is glad in Him. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” (Psalm 16:8-9) God knows the secrets of my heart that no one else knows. “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21) God chose David, “a man after mine own heart”, to be king over Israel. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) We are to love God with all our heart. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30) And God gives us this promise… “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) What a wonderful promise!
13. A Simple Message, Eternal, Sure, and Personal
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 10:27-28)
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)
14. The Greatest Prayer That Was Never Answered
This was the title of Pastor Rick Byerly’s sermon last Sunday. I wanted to use Romans 8:28 for the devotions today, and I decided that I could weave in the sermon. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” God knows what is best in our lives and some prayers that we pray are not answered. Why? Because God knows what is best! We may not see the reason we have to wait so long for an answer. We may not understand why God did not work things out the way we wanted things to be. But, God knows what is best! In I Kings 18 God answered the prayer of Elijah and gave great victory over the prophets of Baal. God answered his prayer and sent rain after three and a half years of no rain. Then wicked Queen Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah and he fled to the wilderness. “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (I Kings 19:4) God allowed him to rest. God gave him provision. God listened as he poured out his heart. God revealed Himself to the prophet. God gave him more to do for Him. God did all of this for Elijah but He never answered that prayer. Do you know the end of Elijah’s story? God took him to heaven in a chariot of fire. “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11) Elijah never died. We don’t understand why some of our prayers are not answered, but we have a faithful God who always knows what is best for us!
15. Only God The Father Knows…
I have enjoyed writing these devotionals on, “The Potter Knows The Clay”. We know that God sees all and knows all, but when we stop to consider what that entails, it is amazing to think about. Jesus knew how He would be falsely charged and nailed to the cross. He knew that He would rise up from the grave on the third day. Towards the end of the book of Matthew He was trying to prepare His disciples for some of the things that would come to pass. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3) He spoke of wars, and rumors of war, of famines and earthquakes in different places. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12) I believe that the end of time will be soon. All the prophecies in the Bible are being fulfilled. There have been times in the past where someone would claim to know when the world would end. Don’t put your faith in false prophets. Jesus continued in this chapter, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:35-36) God knows our past. God knows our present. And praise the Lord He knows our future, and as His children, we don’t have to worry about what is to come. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, please believe on Him and confess your sin to Him. He already knows all about you and He is waiting for you to put your trust in Him.
“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
