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Sunday, April 19, 2009

A Masterpiece In His Hands



A few weeks ago some friends invited us to see a powerful husband and wife ministry called “The Potter's Field”. This couple travels all over the US and abroad to share their amazing testimony of how God broke them and remade them into what they are today. What makes their story so unique is the fact that the husband, Micheal, had been a skilled potter long before he was saved. He now uses those skills to illustrate and teach biblical lessons, making them come alive right on stage!

My first thought was this should be a really interesting presentation. I've never sat and watched a potter make pottery in person. But little did I know it was going to be so much more. We got to hear the story of Jeremiah taught in such a powerful way as Micheal designed that vase right in front of our eyes.

When he started to make the pot it was only a lump of clay in the center of the wheel. It was so interesting to watch the techniques he used as he poured water on the clay and constantly pushed and pulled both inside and out with all his strength. I was amazing as I watched how many times he wrapped his hands and arms around that clay. Spin after spin it began to change and transform before our very eyes. In the end, it hardly took any pressure at all to shape it because it had become so soft and pliable.

Isn't it wonderful that God teaches us so many lessons by using the familiar, common, and ordinary things that are all around us? When God called Jeremiah down to the Potter's house that day, I'm sure he was wondering, "What is God trying to teach me now?"

I was thinking the same thing as I sat there in the service that night watching and listening. Yes, God revealed some deep things to me that night, and I would like to share some of them with you today.

The first thing that got my attention was how plain and ordinary that lump of clay was when he started. I could not begin to envision the beautiful pot that it was destined to become in the end. I felt so grateful that God is able to see way beyond our present sinful and fallen nature. His plan is to mold us into the image of His beautiful Son. We must ask God to help us to see ourselves as He sees us, not the way we are right now. God sees the finished work! Can you?

The next thing that struck me was the way he wrapped his arms and even pressed the clay against his body. He was intimately involved in the process of making that pot. Gosh, he got so dirty and there was clay all over him by the time he finished. He continually rubbed, shaped and formed the clay as the wheel spun around and around. As I watched, I felt a little ashamed when I remembered all the times I've walked through difficulties and trials, and thought that God was so distant. Yet all the while, He was right there with His arms around me holding me so close. Truly He is so faithful and has promised never to leave or forsake us.

And then there was the water. As the pot kept spinning on the wheel, he was constantly pouring water over it as he molded the clay. He shared how like the water on the clay God’s Word washes us, and how it is used to soften and transform our hearts. It exposes the hard lumps, which can then be easily removed. Without the Water of the Word we will become


dry,

hard

and unpliable.


But as we surrender to the Potter’s hand and allow Him to pour the Water over our lives, He is able to shape us into a beautiful vessel of honor. One made in the very image of His precious son, Jesus.
Something to ponder:

Are you willing to yield to God’s powerful touch in your life today?

Will you allow Him to take charge of your life, make you and mold you into the image He sees fit?

The choice is yours.






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13 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Yes, Lord make me, and mold me.

April 19, 2009 at 12:49 AM  
Blogger luvmy4sons said...

Wonderful object lesson. Always wonderful to see God in everything...as the clay who are we to say anything to the potter! Yet He loves us, and called us, and desires communion with us! Amen!

April 19, 2009 at 9:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful analogy!

April 19, 2009 at 2:03 PM  
Blogger Betsy Markman said...

Beautiful!

And isn't it silly how all of us lumps of molded clay like to compare ourselves with one another, as if the differences between us were of our own making!

Whatever God makes of us, He could have made with any lump of clay, and we'd better not forget that!

Thanks for posting this.

April 19, 2009 at 3:29 PM  
Blogger Esthermay Bentley-Goossen said...

I love that you use the word "surrender" as you closed this post. There is a world of difference in our lives when we "surrender" to Jesus and His Will for us.

Simply being "committed" to Him leaves a piece of ME in the mix.

The clay is not committed to being shaped - it is SURRENDERED to the potter's will! AMEN.

This sounds like an amazing ministry team. Do they have a website or contact info?

April 19, 2009 at 3:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That was a beautiful post! It is amazing how so many times we may need to give something another look or think about it in a different way because it just may be God's answers to our prayers.

April 19, 2009 at 5:22 PM  
Blogger Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Oh we had the privilege of seeing them many many years ago at our former church and they were wonderful. Such a testimony and presentation.
It's good to see they are still at it!
Loved the post.
Blessings,
Kim

April 19, 2009 at 7:20 PM  
Blogger LisaShaw said...

Whatever the Lord wants to make me into I say have Your way Lord.

This is a beautiful message and there are so many nuggets within what you shared. There is great humility and power in knowing that we are clay in the Potters hands. We are being molded and shaped and He even presses us up close to Him and applies His imprint into us. O thank You Abba Father!!!

May the Lord bless this beautiful Ministry team as they travel around the US.

Bless you sweet Susan and may God's imprint always be seen upon your life as it is seen now. You are a beautiful vessel made and continously shapped by the Potters Hand.

Love you.

April 19, 2009 at 7:26 PM  
Blogger Julie said...

Susan, I absolutely LOVED this post. I cannot tell you how many times I've told God that I want to be molded by His hands alone. The beautiful thing is that God sees not the lump of clay, but the finished design.
He has the design in mind before He ever starts with us. I LOVE that!

Loved your heart shared here...

April 19, 2009 at 8:40 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I've heard about this ministry. Many people have responded in the manner that you have. It's so powerful.

April 19, 2009 at 8:45 PM  
Blogger Stonefox said...

This is truly beautiful and encouaraged me today as I am being "shaped" by the Potter. Just seeing the clay all over the potter drives home the point about His arms being around us during the process. Thanks for sharing this!!

April 19, 2009 at 8:49 PM  
Blogger Daphine said...

I am speechless.....
Beautiful!!!! Thanks so much for this! It touched my heart in more ways than you know.

April 19, 2009 at 10:13 PM  
Blogger Laurie Ann said...

Very powerful object lesson, Susan. Time for some self-inventory to make sure I'm pliable in the Potter's hands.

April 20, 2009 at 11:52 AM  

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