Priceless
Based on Jeremiah 18:1-8
We live in a world full of chaos—confusion, loss, pain, and brokenness. In the midst of it all, it’s easy to feel overlooked, broken, or even worthless. Whether it's health struggles, financial burdens, or family problems weighing us down, the enemy tries to convince us we don’t matter. But the truth from God’s Word tells a different story: You are Priceless.
In Jeremiah 18:1-8, God gives Jeremiah a vision of a potter at his wheel—a powerful reminder that the trials we endure are not meaningless. They are part of God’s molding process, shaping us into something beautiful and useful. This morning, let’s step into the Potter’s workshop and discover how these divine hands are crafting us for His glory.
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The Potter’s Wheel
The potter’s wheel is a fundamental tool—a place where formless clay is spun and shaped into something purposeful. The potter considers many things before creating: cost, space, durability, and the work area required. But the most important factor? The vision.
The Potter—God Himself—has a divine vision for us. He sees our end from the beginning. Every spin of the wheel, every press of His hand, every moment of shaping is part of the process. He works with care and love, molding us not into something cheap or common, but into a masterpiece.
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The Clay
Clay by itself seems ordinary. But in the hands of the potter, it becomes something of value.
Clay must be the right texture—it can’t be too dry or too wet. And even if it’s marred, it can be reworked. In the same way, our lives may have flaws or past mistakes, but we are never beyond God’s restoring touch. The shaping might involve shrinking and pressure to seal the cracks and holes in our hearts.
Paul speaks to this in Romans 9:20-21 (MSG):
“Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, 'Why did you shape me like this?' Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans?”
God knows what He’s making. Our job is to yield.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV) adds:
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
It’s only after clay has gone through the fire that it becomes useful—solid, refined, ready to serve.
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The Wheel of Circumstance
Life spins us in unexpected directions. Trials, disappointments, setbacks—we’ve all felt them. Yet these circumstances are the very things God uses to mold and shape us.
Sometimes we walk away from God’s plan or resist His hands, but He never stops working. His wheel keeps turning. He has the extended workspace and the “splash pans” to handle all the mess that comes with our lives.
God speaks to us in Isaiah 43:1-3 (NKJV):
“…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God…”
The value of something often comes from the process behind it. Pearls are formed in oysters when irritants cause them to react over time—sometimes for years—until a precious gem is formed. Diamonds? They emerge from extreme heat and pressure.
You may feel buried by your circumstances. But God says: You are Priceless. Just like the pearl or diamond, what you're going through has purpose. What the world sees as a small pot or a basic ring—God sees as His treasured creation. Its worth is defined not by others, but by the One who formed it.
Romans 8:28 (KJV) says:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
And Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) reminds us:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
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The Hands
God doesn’t create from a distance. His hands are on us. He is involved—kneading, reshaping, rebuilding, repairing. Every scar, every hurt, every rough edge is seen by the Master Potter.
Even the wheel itself is powered by a foot pedal—steady, deliberate. The potter controls the speed, ensuring the right pace for the process. Some potters even prefer a kickwheel for its longevity—just like our faith, meant to last through seasons.
And when we think of the Potter’s foot, we can’t help but remember the feet of Jesus—pierced with spikes for our salvation. Those feet are still turning the wheel of grace in our lives today.
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Well Done
Life is full of choices, pressures, and molding moments. How we respond affects what we become. But if we remain in the Potter’s hands, the result will be beautiful.
In the end, what matters most isn’t how many times we were broken or reshaped. What matters is hearing these words from the Master:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
– Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
Just like the servant in Jesus' parable who multiplied the talents he was given:
“Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.”
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things,
I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
(Matthew 25:20-21)
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You are not forgotten. You are not worthless. You are not too broken.
You are Priceless—because you are being shaped by the hands of the Master Potter, formed for His purpose, and destined for His glory.
