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POTTER.R03
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1992-10-31
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POTTER AND CLAY
Isaiah 64:8. "Yet, 0 Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay,
and You our potter, and we all are the work of Your hand." (Amp)
A potter is a master craftsman who through many different processes works with
the clay, and transforms it from a useless lump into a vessel that is both
beautiful and useful. Many times in the Bible, God is compared to a potter
making something beautiful and useful from the clay of our lives.
"Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working at the
wheel. And the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of
the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel, as it seemed
good to the potter to make it. 0 house of Israel, cannot I do with you as
this potter? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so
are you in my hand." Jeremiah 18:3-6. (Amp)
As the clay is dug from a pit by the potter, so we have been drawn up out of
the pit of destruction and sin by God. Read Psalm 40:2. Ephesians 2:10.
WASHING AND SOAKING
The potter must first wash the clay and soak it in water. The water speaks of
the Word of God and we must be soaked and saturated in that Word. God cannot
do much with a person who is unwilling to hear and obey His Word. Paul,
writing of Jesus' ministry to the Church, said in Ephesians 5:26 "that He
might sanctify, cleanse it with the washing of the water by the Word."
SMITING
Next the potter hits the clay, slaps it and smites it again and again to make
it even and smooth, without any lumps. We must remember that it is God's hand
that smites us and that it is for our own good. "For the moment all
discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11
(RSV)
CUTTING ASUNDER
When the potter has slapped the clay into a nice smooth shape he takes a piece
of wire, cuts through the center of the lump to see if there are any air
bubbles or other impurities inside. Air bubbles left in the clay will cause
it to crack during the drying or firing. In the same way God works to remove
all impurities and air bubbles of fear, pride, resentment, or other sin from
our lives.
"For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the
sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires
with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are." Hebrews 4:12 (L.B.)
God has promised that He will never leave us wounded and torn, but after a
time He heal us and bind us up. Read Hosea 6:1.
THE WHEEL
The clay is at last ready to go on the wheel; going round, and round, and
round, seemingly getting nowhere. Sometimes we feel that the day to day
routine in our lives is boring but God has carefully chosen our circumstances
to work out His purposes in our lives. We must stay on the wheel where God
has put us.
"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." Romans 8:28. Read Romans
9:20,21.
STRETCHING
While the clay is on the wheel it must also be stretched. The potter draws it
up to its full height then squashes it flat again. Just when we think we are
getting somewhere spiritually God squashes us. We don't mind too much if God
does it but if He uses other people to put us down, that is harder to bear.
Thank God for these people. Read Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14.
SHAPING
The shape of the vessel is chosen by God and we cannot get away from His hand.
Whichever way the clay turns the hands of the potter are there shaping and
moulding. We need to remain soft and pliable, allowing God to do what He
wants.
"Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter!
Does the clay say to him who fashions it, `What are you making'? " Isaiah
45:9 (RSV).
PUTTING ON THE SHELF
Then the pot is put on the shelf and left for a while so that the clay can dry
out before firing. There are times when God takes us through a dry,
`wilderness' experience. This is to bring us to maturity so that we live not
by feelings, but by faith.
"Knowing this that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience
have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James 1:3,4; James 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7.
FIRING
Next the pot is placed in the furnace where it is baked hard. It is when we
go through the fire, (trials, temptations, afflictions) that our faith is
tested and proved. "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you
may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may
rebound to praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ".
1 Peter 1 :6,7 (RSV)
"But He knows the way that I take (He has concern for it, appreciates and pays
attention to it). When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold
(pure and luminous)." Job 23:10. (Amp).
GLAZING
Finally the potter puts on the glaze, made from finely powdered glass, and the
pot is fired again. This is what makes the pot able to hold water and also
gives it beauty. So too, we are to `put on' Christ and let His character be
our beauty. Romans 13:14; Colossians 3:10.
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being
changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes
from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18 (RSV)
We can have confidence in God as the potter - to make us into a perfect vessel
without flaw: beautiful to behold.
When someone admires a beautiful piece of pottery, it is not the vessel itself
that they praise, but the one who made it.
THE END