Living Large- In the Potter’s Hand
The Beatitudes: Part 3
Cornerstone Church
Rev. Gary A. Shockley, Lead Pastor
September 23, 2001
(During the entire service we had a young man working with clay on a potter’s wheel. This was the principle image we referred to throughout our service)
As I continue to listen to the people around me I hear them saying things like, “Life will never be the same again. I will never be the same again.” And there’s truth in that. An event like this leaves it’s mark on us—as a nation and as individuals. We’re just now beginning to see the ripple effects of this tragedy in the financial sector, massive layoffs in the airline and travel industry, and all of this on top of the thousands of families in our nation who are still coming to grips with the loss of loved ones.
As people of faith we continue to look to the love and the grace of God at work in and through all of this. We read in God’s Word from 1 Peter 5:10, “Though you may suffer a little while, God will restore, support, and strengthen you and he will place you on a firm foundation.” And in 2 Timothy 2:19, “God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription, “The Lord knows those who are His.” God says in Isaiah 49, “See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands; I will not forget you!.”
We need to be reminded again-- God didn’t do this! God is in no way behind this act of evil. Evil, sinful men, acting out of their own free will, were responsible for this terrorist act—NOT God.
But because God loves us. Because God wants to have a relationship with us He is at work right now through His Spirit to bring about good in our lives. If it’s true that we will never be the same again—it is also true that God is ready, willing and able—right now-- to make our lives better, to help us experience life more fully, to recreate us in the face of this disaster.
There is a new kind of openness toward God right now in our country. Last week churches, synagogues and temples were filled with people. Even some who have been hard-hearted are finding themselves turning to God. There’s a new kind of softness and sensitivity in people—in ourselves? Have you noticed that?
The clay of our lives has been softened. THAT’S GOD AT WORK!
Hear what the Bible says in Isaiah 64:8, “Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.” Just like Matt Luxton over here is working to create something beautiful from moistened clay, God, as our Potter wants to press, mold, and shape us into new people—if we let Him. I like the words of that old prayer hymn, “Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.”
God wants to do a new thing in your life this morning. He wants to gently take you in His hands and mold and shape your life in a wonderfully new way. “Look! God says in Isaiah 43:19, I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun!”
Just as Matt has an idea in his head about what he wants his clay to become—God has a picture in mind of what he wants for you. We’ve been looking at that picture in what is called the beatitudes from Matthew chapter 5. Here’s how Jesus describes what God wants us to become:
(vs.3) “God blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” God wants us to become people who realize how much we need and depend on Him. If there is a positive side to a disaster like this it’s that we find ourselves turning to God.
(vs.4) “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” God wants us to be so aware of our own sinfulness that it will break OUR own hearts and cause us to cry out to Him for mercy.
(vs.5) And is our scripture for this morning, “God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.” Other versions say, “Blessed are the meek—for they shall inherit the earth.”
If God as our Potter places us on His wheel and wraps his loving hands around us one of the things He pictures for us is meekness. But what does that mean? When I think of meekness I can’t help but picture some milk-toast kind of person, a push-over, someone weak and wimpish. But that’s not what God sees as meekness.
Meekness in God’s eyes is strength being brought under God’s control. Meekness is the wild stallion that has been tamed; it’s the strong man or woman who has the ability to fight back and lash out but instead chooses to sooth hatred, anger or prejudice. It is the ointment strong enough to take the sting out of a wound. It’s a mother’s kiss on a scraped knee. Meekness is power under God’s control!
I saw meekness this week in a group of 50+ kids at North Allegheny High School on Wednesday morning. Before the sun was up they were singing praises to God and praying for God to be at work in their world. That’s incredible power under God’s control!
I saw meekness reflected in the generous response of this congregation last Sunday in the offering for the United Methodist Committee on Relief—almost $1,200 and those gifts were given “over and above” what was offered to the ministry of Cornerstone Church. That’s power under God’s control!
I saw meekness in those who, in spite of the stress and strain in their own lives, went out of their way to be polite, tactful, and courteous toward others.
I see meekness in the people who treated others, especially those who were different from themselves, with dignity and respect.
In each of these experiences I saw the Potter working, molding and shaping the lives of his children---toward meekness—strength under God’s control. That’s what God does!
The events of the past two weeks may have left us feeling powerless. But the truth is we still have a great deal of power. In spite of all that has happened everyone of us here still has the power to influence other people.
q We have the power to think only of our own interests or to reach out to those who are in need;
q We have the power to make decisions that will have either a negative or a positive effect on those around us.
Meekness places this power under God’s control.
Now that we are soft and pliable again--how can we as the clay cooperate with the Potter in shaping us toward meekness?
Let me give you just a few simple ideas:
1. We ought to begin by humbling ourselves before God seeking His forgiveness. It’s all too easy right now to let ourselves off the hook for our own sins in light of the horrendous sins of others. Sin is sin. We can’t hide behind what others have done. We have to come clean to God, confess our sins and ask Him to forgive us. I think God’s would speak to all of America right now this word from 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”
2. Write your own “new life” resolutions. As you move forward from this tragedy think about what you want to become? What are the things you want to leave in the dust? Habits, attitudes, bad decisions, poor choices? And what do you want to do differently? Spend more time with your family? Make more of an effort to be kind to others? Make a new commitment toward serving God? Make your own list and then refer back to it often. It would be a shame to go through all of this only to fall back, or harden, into the same patterns.
3. Invite God to participate more fully into your decision making process. Don’t just assume God will bless everything you do. Before making an important decision spend time in prayer, read the Bible, talk to a Christian friend. From this day forward seek God’s confirmation—don’t just ask God to bless what you’ve already decided to do. You’ll know you’re moving toward spiritual maturity when you ask yourself, “What would God think of this?” before you do almost anything.
4. Stop treating people as a means to an end. Too often we use people to meet our objectives. Think about the people you meet on the other end of the phone, on the other side of the counter, behind the window of the drive-through. What’s their story? How are they feeling? What do they need from God and us?
5. Find a way to help others—right now our staff is working to find ways to meet the needs of our own community. Can we create a support group for people who are caught in this cycle of grief? Can we offer counseling or direction to those who may lose their jobs? Can we be praying for God to bring the resources we need to step up our ministry in this time? What role can you personally play in all of this? What has God equipped you to do—what are you willing to commit to?
The Potter’s wheel is spinning. He wants to shape our lives toward meekness—strength under God’s control. Will you allow yourself, in light of this tragedy, to be shaped in a new way? Will you ask the Potter to wrap his hands around you and create in you new life? Will you commit yourself, maybe for the very first time or this time more fully, to Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life? Here’s God’s promise to you: “Blessed are you when you are shaped toward meekness—for you will receive what God has promised—a life of true satisfaction and peace.” The wheel is spinning. Will you let the Potter work in your life?
