Vessels for the Master's Use -- part 1

For the next three weeks I would like to invite you to sit with me in the Potter's House and let Him (the Master Holy Spirit) touch our lives. Whatever He wants to do, let’s be willing. Whatever He wants to say, let’s listen. And whatever He wants us to act on, let’s be ready.

Jeremiah 1: 5 (NKJV)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

Here we see that Jeremiah was familiar with the thought of being formed. As a prophet, he was a spokesman for God and God wanted him to learn and gain insight from watching the process used by a potter. Jeremiah was directed to go to the Potter's House, and you as well were led by the Lord to be reading this entry today. What does the Lord have for us to learn?

As background, Jeremiah was living in a time when Israel had become self-centered, materialistic, and idolatrous. The people were too concerned with themselves.

Jeremiah 18: 1-6 (NKJV)

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ² “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”  ³ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. ⁴ And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!”

So, we see here that the prophet Jeremiah watched and learned. And through this process God was symbolically demonstrating to Jeremiah what would happen to Israel if they did not yield to the hands of the Potter. The Potter knew what he wanted to create, but the “clay” needed to cooperate with the Creator to become the desired finished product / vessel.

As I was studying this concept, I discovered that Jeremiah's name means "Jehovah throws." In this specific context, don’t you find that extremely interesting? I sure do!

Maybe this whole scenario regarding the potter went something like this. God was saying, “Jeremiah, you are like a piece of clay. I the Master Potter am throwing you on the potter's wheel to be molded, shaped, formed, cleaned out, baked, fired, glazed. And at the end of this process, you will be a vessel worthy of your Master’s use.”

Next week we will continue this discussion of the Potter and the clay and how the analogy relates to us as children of God.

Blessings to all of you,

Dr. Sharon Predovich