A Visit To The Potter's House

Romans 8:28-29. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Jeremiah 18:1-10  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

What does it mean to be conformed to the image of Christ? Conformed = to be molded. Therefore, we are to be molded into vessels that resemble Jesus. To understand this, let’s make a visit to the potter’s house.

  1. First the potter decides what he wants the clay to become. How it will be most useful to him.

  2. He pictures in his mind what it is to look like and how it’s to be used.

  3. He puts the lump of clay on the wheel, spins it, and starts putting pressure on it, to change it from a worthless lump into a chosen vessel. The pressures of life, the problems, heartaches and trials, are all part of the potter’s attempt to make you into a chosen vessel (see Romans 8:28 above.). God always knows exactly how much pressure to use and where. He will not exceed your load limit.

  4. I Corinthians 10:13.There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
       God also uses other things to mold and shape you:

    1. God’s word through reading and preaching.

    2. Influence and example of others.

  5. Sometimes the clay has in it a hard spot that will not yield to the potter. It will not conform. The result is the vessel is shattered or marred. The result is, it cannot become what it could have been had it yielded. This is very sad in the life of a Christian. There is nothing wrong with the potter, the problem is with the clay. The potter cannot add more clay, because the difference in texture, moisture, and temp. The bigger the area of resistance, the more the vessel is marred, and the less useful it will be.

  6. Good news! (Jeremiah 18:4 above). The potter doesn’t throw the clay away, but will attempt to make a smaller vessel out of it. Yes, it is sad it cannot be what it could have been, but at least it can still be something for God if it wants to be. Satan will try and tell you, if you can’t do God’s original plan, you are discarded.

  7. Romans 12: 1-2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
     And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
    These are not three separate wills, but all adjectives describing God’s will. If His first will or plan for your life is no longer possible, than he now has a new will for your life. It’s his perfect will for you NOW.

Conclusion:

1.Don’t ever resist what God is trying to do in your life.

2. If it’s too late to do God’s original plan, find out what his will is for you now.

3. Whether or not it’s the original plan or not, don’t settle for anything less than God’s best for you now!