Volume 2 Post/Email 2 – Jeremiah 18:3-6
Jeremiah 18:3-4 reads, “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.”
Jeremiah watches a potter in his home shaping marred clay. Then God speaks to him.
Jeremiah 18:5-6 reads, “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.”
We are marred – damaged – deformed – imperfect – dysfunctional - messy. Yet, God has his loving and capable hands on us! He is actively shaping and molding us as He sees fit.
God does not leave us where we are at. He loves us. He helps us. He shapes us. He changes us.
Spiritual formation is a work of God (not something we do on our own).
Spiritual formation is a process.
This week is an opportunity to be impacted by God. Are you open to it? Are you looking for it? Are you open to Him? Are you looking for Him?
As the clay, we do not get to choose our shape and size. (1)
We do not select our spiritual gifts. The Spirit does.
1 Corinthians 12:11 teaches us, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
We simply decide whether or not to use the gift or gifts with which God has already equipped and empowered us.
The encouragement of the acronym ELGUY – “Everyday let God use you” – includes letting God use us the way He deems best. May we gladly submit to our Potter this week, trusting His guidance, molding decisions, and wisdom.
-Brian
1 This is not only true as individuals, but also as communities (congregations) of believers. God forms and builds and grows the church as He sees fit. Our job is to cooperate and participate in His will and work.
