Good morning. I read recently about a potter who is well known for making both items of utilitarian, and ordinary function as well as items that are remarkably beautiful and artistic. When asked what decided the fate of any particular lump of clay, the potter said that when he felt well rested and in a good mood, he would take the extra time and care to create the exceptionally beautiful things that he was well known for. But when he felt stressed, tired, or in a poor mood he would give his efforts to ordinary vessels destined for menial uses. The potter went on to say that creating something beautiful takes a lot more time, a lot more imagination, a lot more commitment. Also, he said that making the beautiful item usually required several tries until the item would achieve that perfect form needed to be considered beautiful, and therefore valuable. As for the utilitarian pieces, they didn’t need to be perfect, only functional.
Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8
“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6
There are days when I think I feel up to being shaped into something extraordinary. Yes God, please make me into something beautiful in the work of your hands today, that you would receive glory!
But I must confess that there are many days when I am more in the mood for being as utilitarian as I can be. Please, Lord, may I at least be formed into something useful today? I am not asking for anything special, just create me today to be of use to you and I will be satisfied.
When did the clay ever feel it had the right to instruct the potter regarding what the potter should create? Is it even conceivable that we should have such authority in any given day to instruct God in such a way? It is hard to imagine that this could ever be true.
You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
“You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
“You know nothing”? Isaiah 29:16
Truly, we who are the clay in the potter’s hands should be thrilled that we are to be worked by the Master. He creates all things beautiful, whether they would be considered a work of art or with a utilitarian purpose.
It should be our prayer that we are thankful each day for what our heavenly Father is creating us to be and to do. It is God who knows what is needed, and it is God who knows what we are most ready for as we begin the new day.
Please, Oh Lord, make me, mold me, shape me in accordance with your will and I will rejoice in the thrill of having been created today by such a Master!
Vern