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Monday,
September 12, 2005
"The Master Potter"
"The Master Potter"
"Go down to the potter's house, and
there I will give you my message" (Jeremiah 18:2). "O LORD, you are our
Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of
your hand" (Isaiah 64:8).
One of our favorite tourist attractions in New England is "Old Sturbridge Village", a re-created village from the 1830's. "Interpreters" dressed in period costume who are very knowledgeable explain what they are doing and answer questions from the guests. We visited often when we lived up in Massachusetts.
Upon arrival Ester just couldn't wait to get to the Potter's House. After entering the Potter's House she would squirm her way through the small, observant crowd so she could be right in front of the potter at work. Brooksyne and I would eventually steer her out the door, but not without a heavy dose of persuasion that she'd spent enough time watching the potter at work. After we'd walk out the door she'd inevitably begin to sing a chorus she had heard us sing in church:
Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God. May I be like You.
You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray. *
Using her interest in the potter and the clay we sought to teach her, and have been reminded ourselves of another great lesson learned at another Potter's House about 2,600 years ago.
In the first daily text God Himself directed the prophet Jeremiah to go down to the Potter's House for a teaching lesson. I expect God to teach me in the mundane experiences of life if my eyes and ears are open. The Master Teacher used birds, fields and little children to teach lasting lessons. In fact I often use observations in nature and life as a basis for these daily encouragements.
I am so personally blessed by the second verse. "O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). God has not changed and the statement is directed to each of us as well and many a songwriter has made this connection.
As God, the Master Potter, in His providential ways forms us, we do well to submit to His caring hands. Occasionally the actions of the Master Potter may not make sense to us. We may squirm or even complain. The action of the Master Potter may be painful to us. We may even think we know better! But what spiritual peace and assurance comes when we willingly place our life in the caring Hands of the Master Potter and say, "You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, this is what I pray."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Note from Brooksyne: I can personally understand Ester's enthusiasm in watching a potter shape and mold the clay. When I was a child growing up in Tulsa we lived near Frankoma Pottery in Sapulpa, OK. One of the potters who worked there was also an evangelist. Over the years he would bring his potter's wheel to our church and keep the children spellbound as he'd tell the great story from Jeremiah 18. I will always think of that scene when I read from Jeremiah 18 or sing songs about Jesus being the Potter and us being the clay.
Brooksyne's prayer: Father, too often my heart becomes hard, unpliable, and unmoved because of my stubborn will. My pride convinces me that I know more than You, my Creator, and I've become reckless along the way. Lord, I can trust You as my Potter when You break me to remove my imperfections. Though it is a painful and deliberate process I invite You to take charge as You breathe new life into my soul. You show me the better way and You faithfully guide me as You mold me into Your Image. As I go through this purifying process I will firmly stand during the testing periods of my life. I want to be a vessel of honor that will bring glory to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Here's an online audio version of the song Ester would sing as we left the Potter's House.
As I a was preparing this message Brooksyne also recalled a beautiful song on this subject called, "The Potter's Hand." Here's an audio sample.
Yesterday I preached on this very topic and shared these four truths concerning the Master Potter:
One of our favorite tourist attractions in New England is "Old Sturbridge Village", a re-created village from the 1830's. "Interpreters" dressed in period costume who are very knowledgeable explain what they are doing and answer questions from the guests. We visited often when we lived up in Massachusetts.
Upon arrival Ester just couldn't wait to get to the Potter's House. After entering the Potter's House she would squirm her way through the small, observant crowd so she could be right in front of the potter at work. Brooksyne and I would eventually steer her out the door, but not without a heavy dose of persuasion that she'd spent enough time watching the potter at work. After we'd walk out the door she'd inevitably begin to sing a chorus she had heard us sing in church:
Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God. May I be like You.
You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray. *
Using her interest in the potter and the clay we sought to teach her, and have been reminded ourselves of another great lesson learned at another Potter's House about 2,600 years ago.
In the first daily text God Himself directed the prophet Jeremiah to go down to the Potter's House for a teaching lesson. I expect God to teach me in the mundane experiences of life if my eyes and ears are open. The Master Teacher used birds, fields and little children to teach lasting lessons. In fact I often use observations in nature and life as a basis for these daily encouragements.
I am so personally blessed by the second verse. "O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). God has not changed and the statement is directed to each of us as well and many a songwriter has made this connection.
As God, the Master Potter, in His providential ways forms us, we do well to submit to His caring hands. Occasionally the actions of the Master Potter may not make sense to us. We may squirm or even complain. The action of the Master Potter may be painful to us. We may even think we know better! But what spiritual peace and assurance comes when we willingly place our life in the caring Hands of the Master Potter and say, "You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, this is what I pray."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Note from Brooksyne: I can personally understand Ester's enthusiasm in watching a potter shape and mold the clay. When I was a child growing up in Tulsa we lived near Frankoma Pottery in Sapulpa, OK. One of the potters who worked there was also an evangelist. Over the years he would bring his potter's wheel to our church and keep the children spellbound as he'd tell the great story from Jeremiah 18. I will always think of that scene when I read from Jeremiah 18 or sing songs about Jesus being the Potter and us being the clay.
Brooksyne's prayer: Father, too often my heart becomes hard, unpliable, and unmoved because of my stubborn will. My pride convinces me that I know more than You, my Creator, and I've become reckless along the way. Lord, I can trust You as my Potter when You break me to remove my imperfections. Though it is a painful and deliberate process I invite You to take charge as You breathe new life into my soul. You show me the better way and You faithfully guide me as You mold me into Your Image. As I go through this purifying process I will firmly stand during the testing periods of my life. I want to be a vessel of honor that will bring glory to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Here's an online audio version of the song Ester would sing as we left the Potter's House.
As I a was preparing this message Brooksyne also recalled a beautiful song on this subject called, "The Potter's Hand." Here's an audio sample.
Yesterday I preached on this very topic and shared these four truths concerning the Master Potter:
- The Master Potter is in control.
- The Master Potter is "hands on" (genuine pottery products are not mass-produced).
- The Master Potter takes time and changes His work a number of times in ways that can be mysterious to the observer as he works on the finished product. As living pottery this time and changing can be mysterious to us as well!
- The Master Potter has the ultimate good in mind for His work.
* "Change My Heart
Oh God" Espinosa, Eddie © 1982 Mercy Publishing (Admin. by Music
Services) CCLI License No. 2005306
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
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