July 2024

Shaped by Faith: The Potter's Hand in Our Lives

Many years ago, my pastor asked me to prepare a message for a weeknight service at our church. It was my first time preaching to the congregation, and I was nervous and uncertain about what to talk about. I prayed, and God led me to Jeremiah 18:1-6. This passage became the basis of my message, offering relevant insights and encouragement that are still useful today.

The passage reveals a profound conversation between God and the prophet Jeremiah. God instructed Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and await further instructions. Jeremiah obediently went to the potter's home. He observed the potter at his wheel, methodically shaping clay. When a vessel turned out badly, the potter would start over, using the same clay. God then conveyed a powerful message to Jeremiah, "Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel." This dramatic imagery shows God's ability to shape and reshape His people, emphasizing His sovereign power and grace.

After reading the passage, I decided to look into the meaning of the word "vessel." I discovered various definitions and found that a vessel can refer to a container designed to hold something, like a jar or a pot. In a broader sense, the word can describe someone who possess qualities connected to knowledge or grace. This understanding enriched my appreciation of the scripture, highlighting how we, as vessels in God's hands, are shaped and filled with His purpose, wisdom, and love.

Vessels come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. However, a vessel wasn't always a vessel. First, it was a piece of clay. A potter gathered the clay, looked at it, and decided what it should become. Then, the potter begins to form it into the desired shape. The purpose is to make a vessel that would be used precisely for what it was created for. If the potter found the proper shape, he would put the clay in an oven to harden it. But sometimes, the clay would be unstable; it would collapse and fall and have to be reshaped or molded again. The potter would take it out of the oven, and the clay would go through a rigorous process that involves slamming, pounding, and kneading. When those steps were completed, he would turn the oven up and slide the reshaped clay back into the oven. The clay would be in there for hours as the fire burned off impurities and strengthened the mold of the clay. After baking the clay in the oven, the potter would pull it out and set it aside to cool off. After the clay was cold, the potter distinguished it because it was now a vessel. However, the vessel looked like all the others. So, the potter paints the vessel and gives it uniqueness. 

We are unique like the clay turned into a vessel after several processes. God formed us in our mother's womb. He gave us a purpose and uniqueness. Isaiah 64:8 tells us God is the potter, and we are the clay. He uses our experiences to make, shape, and mold us so we can be vessels he can use. God must shape and mold our character to fulfill the purpose he gave us. He does this by allowing us to go through trials and temptations, often in experiences on the job or at home, in the car, at the mall, at the market, or wherever. Sometimes, we collapse or fall under pressure, just like the clay in the oven. We collapse when we allow hopelessness and despair to creep into our lives. We quit spending time with God and connecting to other believers. We skip praying and studying the bible; we have no fellowship and lose accountability. 

The potter's vessel, which was flawed and unsuitable for its intended use, was reshaped by the potter into a perfect, unblemished work. This act symbolizes God's transformative power in reforming Israel. God continues to transform lives today. Just as the potter reshapes the clay into a perfect vessel, God works within us, guiding and molding us to fulfill His purpose. Through His grace, we are continually renewed and refined, growing in faith and becoming who we are meant to be. 

Although life situations can be overwhelming and feel like fire, they are necessary to strengthen and build our character and remove impurities. Sometimes, conditions are so intense that we may overcome one thing but then find another situation we must overcome. You may wonder why I continue to go through something repeatedly. Well, it is not always the enemy. Maybe it is God trying to get your attention because he wants you to become what he intended. 

To become a vessel God can use, we must do the following. 

1. Accept the way God made you. Don't question, cooperate. Don't compare yourself to others.
2. Be emptied of self to make room for God. Don't have an agenda of your own.
3. Find out what God designed you to do. 
4. Allow God to cleanse you even if the process is painful. 
5. Be filled and constantly refilled with the living water of the Holy Spirit. Read, pray, and fast. 
6. Pour out your life in ministry as God directs. Serve others, do more than sit, volunteer. 

 Excerpt from Becoming A Vessel God Can Use by Donna Partow

Remember, God is the potter, and we are the clay. He can shape and mold us into the vessels He desires, but it is up to us to yield to His work in our lives. By being open and responsive to His guidance, we allow Him to transform us and fulfill His divine purpose within us.