Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – Like Clay In The Hand Of The Potter – Jeremiah 18-1-6 – Growing As Disciples
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6 NIV
Potter
Do you really believe this? Believe what? That you are the work of my hands. I think that I do. You seem a little tentative in your answer. What would it mean if I did or didn’t fully believe this? That’s a good question. Let’s talk about that.
If you don’t believe that I am like a potter shaping you into the work of my hands, then who is in charge of shaping you? If it’s not you, then I guess it would have to be me. If you were not in charge then someone would have to take charge. Isn’t that what you have done for much of your life? Take charge? Yes, that’s true I suppose. Why do you like being in charge? I’m not sure exactly. Take a stab at it. I want to make progress and fulfill a good purpose in life. That’s very good. So, when I think that I have a sense of what that might be, I take charge and head off in that direction to try to make it happen. How has that worked out for you? I have had very mixed success. Sometimes I’ve made bad decisions, gotten into trouble and wasted a lot of time. That’s been very frustrating for me. Me too. Do you want me to describe to you what has been happening to you from my perspective? Yes, very much so. One minute, you are on my potter’s wheel, being shaped by me, the next moment you’ve jumped off. Then after awhile when you’re all bent out of shape, you come back and jump back on my potter’s wheel. So, I go from being glad to sad to glad again. It saddens me when you’ve taken charge of your life and jumped off my potter’s wheel. As you have made bad choices and gotten all bent out of shape, I have felt sadness and pain right along with you.
What part of you doesn’t like to be in charge? The part of me that knows better and is becoming a little wiser. Tell me what you mean. I’ve started to be able to sense when I’m jumping off your potter’s wheel. How’s that? It’s like your voice is whispering to me saying, “don’t go there, be careful, don’t do that.” That has been me, you’re right. So, I stop and return to ask for your help and direction. Why do you need my help and direction? I’ve learned that I’m not a good potter. I don’t have the right perspective. I don’t see things that you see. I don’t know what you know. My efforts leave me sadly misshapen. Are you saying that you would like to relinquish the potter’s role to me? Yes, I am. Do you trust that I will continue to make you into the work of my hands? Yes, I do. How do you think that you will look when I’ve finished with you? I will be beautiful in your sight and in the sight of all! When do you think I will be finished molding and shaping your life? When I’m in heaven with you? Exactly, you got that right. Won’t that be a great day? Yes, it will.
Father, thank you that you are the potter and I am the clay. I trust you. My life is in your hands. Mold and shape my life according to your purposes and plans. Make me beautiful in your sight for your kingdom and glory. Amen
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