Wednesday, October 25, 2023

The Potter and the Clay - Reflections on Romans 9:21

The Potter and the Clay, Romans 9:21

There are times in life when certain verses from the Bible strike a chord within us, providing a moment of clarity and understanding that resonates deep within our hearts. One such verse that has recently captured my attention is Romans 9:21. It provides a beautiful analogy of our relationship with God, likening us to clay in the hands of a potter.

"Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" Romans 9:21

The Potter and the Clay

The verse begins with a rhetorical question, prompting us to reflect on the nature of the potter-clay relationship. The Potter, in this context, is God, and we, His creation, are the clay. The Potter has full authority over the clay, shaping it as he sees fit. He can make vessels of honor, designed for noble purposes, and vessels of dishonor, meant for refining into the person God has created us to be. Both types of vessels are necessary for the glory of God.

This analogy speaks volumes about our relationship with God. We are as as lumps of clay in our Father's hands, and it is God who molds us into the individuals we become. He has a specific purpose for each one of us. After we are molded into our vessels of honor and dishonor, it is time to bake in the refiners fire. It is in the fiery furnaces of our lives, those circumstances we would rather avoid, the most unpleasant ones, the hard times that might break us, that our true nature is refined and revealed, hopefully to reflect the love and sovereignty of our Potter, our Creator God.

Encouraging Scripture Prints from Abundant Family Living

The second part of the verse reinforces the Potter's authority over the clay. This truth is powerful, reminding us that we are ultimately in God's hands. As clay, we are malleable and subject to the will of the Potter. We have no control over our shape or function; that is determined by the Potter. This can be a humbling thought, reminding us of our dependence on God and His ultimate control over our lives.

However, this scriptural truth also offers a sense of hope and comfort. As clay in the Potter's hands, we are not left to our own devices. We are shaped and guided by a loving Creator who knows our purpose and potential. Even when we chip under the pressure of the furnace, we can take comfort in knowing that we are still of value in the Potter's household.

So, the next time you feel lost or unsure of your purpose, remember Romans 9:21. Dear brother or sister in Christ, you are clay in the Potter's hands, and He has a plan for you. My prayer for you is that you will trust the Potter fully. Allow Him to mold you into a pottery masterpiece that will beautify in the heat of the fiery furnace so that your finished work, your character, will reflect the glory and character of God to everyone you meet.

Anne Graham Lotz said in her recent newsletter:

Without the preparation of the loving, skillful touch of the Potter’s hand, any usefulness or beauty the clay might have would be destroyed by the pressure and the heat. But Jesus makes suffering understandable to this blob of clay. In the midst of the pressure and the heat, I am confident His hand is on my life, developing my faith until I display His glory, transforming me into a vessel of honor that pleases Him! I don’t trust any other potter with my life. - Anne Graham Lotz

Dear fellow believers, you might be in the fiery furnace now, but when you come out of the Potter's kiln, you will be ready for your work in the Potter's house, to know Jesus and to make Him known.

Living Abundantly in Him,

Tina