Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. We gather here today, in the presence of the Lord, to share in His word.

Opening Scripture Reading – We turn our hearts to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 18, verses 1 to 11. It reads: “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”

Potter's Purpose

The potter is an artist, a creator. He has a vision in his mind of what he wants to create. He sees not just a lump of clay, but a vessel, a work of art. He knows the purpose of each piece he creates. In the same way, God, our divine Potter, has a purpose for each one of us. He sees not just our present, but our potential. He knows what we can become, and He is committed to shaping us into vessels of honor, fit for His use.

A. God's purpose for us is not always clear to us. We may feel like a lump of clay, shapeless and without form. We may not understand why we are being pressed and molded, why we are going through trials and tribulations. But the potter does not explain to the clay why he is shaping it the way he is. He simply continues to work, knowing that the end result will be worth it. Similarly, God does not always reveal His plans to us. He simply asks us to trust Him, to submit to His shaping, knowing that He is working all things together for our good.

B. The potter's work is never easy. The clay can be stubborn, resistant to change. It can take a lot of pressure and heat to shape it into the desired form. But the potter is patient. He does not give up on the clay. He continues to work, applying just the right amount of pressure, until the clay begins to take shape. In the same way, God is patient with us. He does not give up on us, even when we resist His shaping. He continues to work in our lives, applying just the right amount of pressure, until we begin to take on the shape He desires.

C. The potter also knows when to stop. He knows when the clay has been shaped enough, when it is time to let it rest and harden. He does not overwork the clay, for that would ruin it. Similarly, God knows when we have been through enough. He knows when it is time to give us rest, to let us recover from the trials we have been through. He does not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear. He is a compassionate and merciful Potter.

D. Finally, the potter takes pleasure in his work. He delights in seeing the clay take shape under his hands. He rejoices when the vessel is finished, when it is ready to be used. In the same way, God takes pleasure in His work in us. He delights in seeing us grow and mature, in seeing us become more like His Son. He rejoices when we are ready to be used for His glory.

Clay's Crisis

Now, we find ourselves drawn to the image of the clay ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO