POTTER AND CLAY
In Job 33:6 ... Job states "I also have been formed out of clay. "
Jeremiah 18:1-6 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: Arise and go down to the potters house, and there I will cause you to hear My words. Then I went down to the potters house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the Lord. Look, as the clay is in the potters hand, so are you in My hand,
He is the Potter and we are the clay... Imagine yourself as a lump of clay. The potter reaches down and chooses you and places you on the pottery wheel. Acts 9:15 (Paul)...he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
He starts the wheel spinning and you go round and round...That's when I start singing "I'm so dizzy my head is spinnin'..." Then He wraps His hands around you "Oh that feels so good to know I am secure in the Potter's hands" then He begins to mold you into the vessel He has planned ahead of time for you to be. *Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.*
You can have peace and assurance that you are safe in the Potter's hands.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
As the Potter's hands begin shaping and smoothing the clay (that feels so good!) All of a sudden "Ouch! That Hurt!" The Potter found something that doesn't belong in His vessel. So He pinched out that little piece of clay with the debris in it. Isaiah 66:20 tells us He wants ... a 'clean vessel' in the house of the Lord. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Finally the Potter looks at the vessel and He is pleased. He has chosen, cleansed, and molded the lump of clay into exactly what he needs you to be.
So what do you think He wants you to be? What kind of vessel or pot?
Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Romans 9:23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
He has good works for us to do and He has equipped us with just the right gifts.
Are you a vessel of honor to be used for beauty and distinction or dishonor for menial or necessary use.
Are you a Flower Pot, a Chamber Pot or even a Cracked Pot??
A Flower Pot might be like a pretty Ginger Jar that is used to hold Treasures. It could be a plain clay pot that holds good seed that will one day bloom into something beautiful.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. treasure = Gospel Earthen vessels = jars of clay Ginger jar
1 Chronicles 9:28 mentions 'serving vessels'
Chamber Pots aren't used much anymore, but I know when we visited Grandpa's farm and you had to use the 'necessary' in the cold,dark night it sure was nice to have one instead of going out to the outhouse. But there are other practical vessels that aren't made for display like a Blue pie plate that I have. It wasn't made for beauty but for to serve a purpose. It is older than I am but I have never had a pie to stick to it or to have a soggy crust. It does it's job.
*don't try to be something you're not*
Jeremiah 14:3 Their nobles have sent their lads for water; They went to the cisterns and found no water. They returned with their vessels empty; They were ashamed and confounded And covered their heads.
I have a green bowl that is very pretty but has decorative holes in it, it just won't hold water.
I have many times wished I could sing a solo, Lord why didn't you give me a beautiful voice and an ear for music? Well because my mouth is made to talk and teach (and eat).
*don't try to be something you're not* You don't want to be like the vessel mentioned in
Hosea 8:8 Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.
What good is a Cracked Pot?
Psalm 31:12 Cracked Pot I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. David was forsaken, Matthew Henry Commentary..."'as a dead man out of mind', and looked upon with contempt as a broken vessel. Those that showed him all possible respect when he was in honour at court, now that he had fallen into disgrace, though unjustly, were strange to him. Such swallow-friends the world is full of, that are gone in winter. Let those that fall on the losing side not think it strange if they be thus deserted, but make sure a friend in heaven, that will not fail them, and make use of him." But in later verses of Psalm 31 you see that David turns to the Lord with confidence knowing that God will deliver him.
My daughter had a beautiful cobalt blue flower pot that the dog knocked off the porch and broke. She took the two pieces and arranged them in her flower bed with Yellow flowers growing in them and they were the center of attraction. A cracked pot is still useful!
Zechariah 14:20-21 In that day HOLINESS TO THE LORD shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lords house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. My Footnotes said: Zechariah 14:21 Or on every pot . . . shall be (engraved) HOLINESS TO THE LORD OF HOSTS
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.
HAVE THINE OWN WAY ,LORD!