ISAIAH 64:8 – But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
THEME OF THE DAY. PLIABLE IN THE POTTER’S HAND. So, do we believe today’s scripture? Of course, we are Bible people. We are committed to the Word of God. It is our source of life. It is our daily food. It is our eternal hope. No question, we believe the truth in today’s scripture. Okay. Now this question. How do we respond to the truth in today’s scripture as it unfolds in our lives daily; the truth of God’s “pottery work” in us? And yes, it is daily. The Divine Potter is daily shaping us, His children, His clay, through the routines in life and the non-routines in life like intense suffering, difficult trials, and challenging circumstances. As the Divine Potter does His molding work in us, it is important we understand what He is doing and respond accordingly. Let’s explore this “pottery work” in two directions that will help us not become “hard clay” – difficult, rebellious, and not teachable to His divine work.
First, our Divine Potter is committed to do this “pottery work” in us and will not leave it unfinished. What God starts; God finishes. The Apostle Paul encourages us toward this truth – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). This truth should do the necessary work in us of submission to the Divine Potter. So, there is no sense or reason to be “spiritually kicking and screaming” or rebelling to the painful process of being shaped because God is going to do the work. And we will submit. Hopefully sooner than later.
A second truth about the Divine Potter’s work is that it is directed toward one goal – conformity to the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus. Don’t lose sight of this when the pain of “pottery work” is intense. In those “hurting times” we easily lose heart and forget what God is doing. All we want is comfort and deliverance, but God is committed first and foremost, not to comforting us in this life or delivering us from suffering, but to make us like Jesus. Again, from the Apostle Paul – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:28-29). If we don’t cut through the “fog” of pain and suffering and see the Divine Potter’s ultimate work – shaping us to be like Jesus – we will find the “clay of our hearts” losing its pliability. We will slow down the Potter’s work by a complaining spirit and hardened heart.
As we ponder ourselves as clay in the Divine Potter’s hands, here is one final encouraging word from today’s scripture. The Divine Potter is our Heavenly Father. That means every stroke from the Potter’s hand comes in love always working for our good and His glory. Rest in this truth when the shaping work He is doing in us is hard and long.
PRAYER: “Father, help me not resist any of Your work in me that would produce a hardening of my heart.”
QUOTE: “We must always be teachable before God and that means a willingness to be changed – always.”