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: SOFT CLAY IN HIS HANDS. What if I told you I have discovered the sure-fire way to not complain in life, not be impatient when things and people upset my schedule, irritate me, and tempt me to sin in either attitude, thought or word? If you believed me, you would be emailing, calling, texting, or knocking on my office door wanting this wonderful cure for all the things I just wrote. Well, I have discovered it. Really. It is so simple yet so hard. It requires a constantly renewed mind focused on the Lord and the other world, and the refusal to give into anything seeking to distract us from the Lord and the other world. It is found in today’s scripture. And with the empowerment of the Spirit of God, we can overcome all those sinful attitudes and actions I mentioned in the first sentence. It is by applying Roman 8:13 – For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
It is in a cooperative union with the Holy Spirit we can put to death the deeds of the body which prevent the Spirit’s work in us; the work of making us like the Lord Jesus. And this cooperative effort is wonderfully described in the roles of God and us – He is the Potter and we are the clay. What a wonderful image is pictured of God being the Divine Potter, and us, being clay on a wheel with the Potter exercising His skill to make something of no value into something of value. That is what grace does. But how is that played out each day of our lives and with each passing moment? Two ways . . .
First, there is a dual responsibility between the Potter and the clay. Both are required to work. The clay’s work is submission to the Potter’s Hands and the Potter does the shaping of the clay into His desired product. In our case, it is to make us into the image of the Lord Jesus. This dual work is best described in the second chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing (Philippians 2:12-14). But there is something else we are required to do.
Next, we must be soft and pliable clay in the Potter’s Hands. This means no complaining, resisting, or allowing worldliness to make us “hard” and unusable clay. It further means we must see that the Hands of the Potter are not only shaping Hands, but sovereign Hands. Every intense trial, difficult circumstance, and challenging relationship must be seen from the Potter’s viewpoint. They are turns on His wheel making us, His clay, someone beautiful reflecting His mysterious work of conforming us into the glorious image of the Lord Jesus. Submit to the work. Don’t be worthless clay. Soft clay Christians are teachable Christians.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to be soft and moldable clay in Your Hands as You form me into the image of Your Son.”
QUOTE: “God is at work in our lives constantly to conform us into the likeness of His Son. Everything is a tool in His shaping Hand.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim