Spoiled in the Potter's Hand

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 18

Scripture Focus: The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.”  So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.  And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.  (Jeremiah 18.1-4)

Devotional Thought: Are you spoiled in the Potter’s hand?  Many things ‘spoil’ us, don’t they?

Consider: God created us to be in loving relationship with him and with others.  Those are the two greatest commandments: “Which commandment is the most important of all? ... The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12.28-31). 

What "spoils" us that we do not have that kind of love for God, for others, for ourselves?  Jealousy?  Fear?  Selfishness?  Anger?  Sin?  Lust?  Pride?

There is, of course, Good News!  Even though our lives may be spoiled in the Potter’s hand, he is willing – if we are! – to rework us into another vessel.  That is what our Potter wants to do.  He does not want to throw us away or cast us aside.  Instead, he desires to keep his hands upon us on the wheel of life.  God has a good plan for you, and even though you may find yourself marred, God will remake you – beginning with your spirit – into something pleasing to him… something pleasant to you and others.  Don’t ever give up on God, friend.  He has not given up on you!

This story in Jeremiah, of course, reminds me of the old gospel hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”...

Prayer: Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Make me and mold me after Thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.  Amen.  (Adelaide A. Pollard‎)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 108.7-13

7 God has promised in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.

9 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph. ”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

12 Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!

13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.