REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, was first posted on July 18, 2014. He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Clay in the Hands of a Potter”
Jeremiah 18:1-4
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.
1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I would watch my children play with clay. The clay would get stretched, pulled, and dirtied. In other words, the clay would get abused, and eventually the poor clay would be thrown away because it cannot be used anymore.
Clay in the hands of a child becomes a toy to be used and discarded; clay in the hands of a potter is similar yet very different in a profound way. This clay is also stretched and pulled, yet it is being stretched and pulled not to be discarded but to become something that is valued, useful, and beautiful. The greater the potter, greater the value of what the clay becomes. A Ming Dynasty vase can cost over $10 million dollars today. You, in the hands of the Master, are worth infinitely more.
Yet it is not easy to stay in the hands of the Master. Therefore, let’s cast off the things that make us move away from the Potter’s hand. I have learned that staying in the hands of God is not about being silent and just waiting; it is hard spiritual work. There are many different ways we knowingly and unknowingly move away from the hands of the Potter.
This morning, instead of complaining about what we have to face today, let’s change our outlook and perspective. The trial of the day is not to crush, expose, or to bring hopelessness. The trial is to change and transform us, to make us stronger, to make us more like Him.
Let’s be determined to stay in the Potter’s hand. He is looking for clay that is compliant and moldable; clay that trust and are completely yielded to Jesus.
Prayer: Father, You know my going in and my going out. You know my innermost thoughts. Sovereign Lord, You have the best plan for my life. I submit to your agenda so that you can shape me into the person You want me to be. I am clay in Your hands. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: 1 Chronicle 5
Lunch Break Study
Read Jeremiah 18:6: “‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’”
Questions to Consider
- When we face trials, we ask God to change the circumstances. Today, pray and ask God what He wants to change in you so He can use you to change the circumstances.
- What part of the clay is the Lord molding or trying to take away? Submit that area of your life to the Lord.
Notes:
- One general change all of us must consider: depending more on God rather than our own strength. One area that ought to reflect this change: more time spent with God, for nothing expresses our dependency on the Lord than persistently praying to Him.
- Consider these areas: lack of faith, immature character, and absence of love
Evening Reflection
James 1:2-6 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Pray for wisdom without doubting to overcome the trials you are facing during this season.