Scripture:
Jeremiah 18:1-4 ESV
[1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: [2] “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” [3] So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. [4] And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Observation:
Jeremiah used regular situations to illustrate how the Father worked. In this case, it was a potter who had started to shape a vessel. The wheel was turning, and the clay was taking shape, but the potter saw something that did not suit him, so the potter wanted the vessel to be able to be used correctly and to its highest potential. He returned it to a lump of clay and started over. Jeremiah used this illustration to address Israel. GOD had been shaping them into a great nation, but somewhere along the way, things were not going the way the LORD thought they should. Israel was worshiping other gods and, in fact, had turned away from GOD all together. Unfortunately, they had to go back to the potter’s wheel. If you have not noticed… the verses chosen this morning come before one of the most widely recognized verses Jeremiah 29:11, which says, ” I know the plans I have for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and hope.” This verse is always inspiring and does exactly what it was intended to. It brings hope to our lives. What we don’t tend to memorize is the verse before it and after it. Which is the potter’s wheel for Israel. GOD used captivity to shape them and give them a desire to cry out to HIM.
Application:
When we start this life, we are a blank slate. An empty canvas. As we navigate, though, the roads that we call life, the vessel starts to take shape. GOD wants to make us into a vessel. That can be used for HIS intended purposes. But what happens when the wheel starts spinning too fast and the shape that the vessel is taking is not what the potter is hoping for? Well, I can’t tell you how many times I have been stripped down to nothing. So that GOD could reshape me and the imperfections could be removed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect now, but I do believe that I am a vessel that my father is using. Sometimes, I still wonder why. But then, I think about all the times I went back to the potter’s wheel. What I hope for is that the reshaping is done, and the vessel HE has made can be used for the purpose HE made it for. My honest heart’s desire is to be used by the Father to bring men women and children to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Father, we are clay in your hands. Shape us to fit what you need from us and help us to take the form of a servant. Your plan and purpose are our desires. Let us not lose sight of what you have done to get us to where we are. Form us into honorable vessels. We love you and can not be left to shape ourselves. The results will not end well. We trust that we are in your hands and you will form us to what you need us to be. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.