When Jeremiah visited the potter’s house, he saw that the clay being made is marred at the hand of the potter. Having been dismayed, the potter calmly squeezed the emerging jar again, shapeless, formless lump of clay. Out of the same clay, he formed a beautiful clay jar, leaving Jeremiah amazed for the masterpiece he saw. And the word of the Lord came to him saying, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.” (Jeremiah18:6)
Recall when you somehow uttered these words in desperation, “Lord, bring back the old me, I’m not the same person I was before. Ido not know myself now.”
There are days when we feel like we start losing ourselves. And, we start doubting our decisions—lose track of ourselves and swerve along the way. But why do we feel lost? It is because we stick too much to the person we know we used to be.
Changes within ourselves should not come by surprise. Change happens constantly, voluntary or involuntary. Some would even say, “change is the worst” simply because they are not used to the new one. But what if we divert our perception and start trusting that changes are for the better?
Jeremiah is saying in the passage that God’s power is more than restoring a deformed clay back to what it used to be. Using the same deformed clay, God can bring out an even more beautiful masterpiece. In my realization over the changes in my life, I came to understand that God always wants something better for me, and these may have not happened if I did not allow myself to go through many changes I’ve experienced over the years. It’s not that God doesn’t want the old version of me, but this is God wanting the best for me.
Do not be mistaken that God doesn’t want the old you. He does. But he wants you to trust him, allow him to work in your life and constantly bring change until he finally sees the best version of his masterpiece in you. All the pieces he makes are a treasure for him. Nothing goes to waste. He doesn’t intend to waste any of your past experiences, trials and battles. He intends to use them to perfect his craft.
Notice in the passage that the potter didn’t say, “let me get a new clay and make a more beautiful pot out of it.” Instead, out of the same clay, he formed an even more beautiful jar.
This is to encourage you that the moment you start to feel you are too tired of yourself and the things around you, wait a little more and trust that God will bring change in your life. Always remember the nature of our relationship with God – He is the potter and we are the clay. We are being molded daily.
Guided Prayer: Father, today, I acknowledge that you are the Potter and I am the clay. Thank you that in my brokenness I find new life in you. Thank you for teaching me not to settle for the life I have had because I am more familiar with it. Thank you for teaching me to aim for new things. As you said in your words Lord, greater are your plans for my life. Continue to mold me to the person you designed me to be. Amen.
Paddle in Faith
The Calling and the Enabling
Jeremiah 1:4-10
7 “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
7 “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
We try to look for the most impeccable excuse we could to reason out when responsibilities knock our doors. Jeremiah might be in the same situation when he answered God’s call, ‘I am too young, I do not know how to speak.’ But at the end of the day, we find ourselves doing the things we run from. Like Jeremiah, we are destined to our callings. We cannot simply run away from them. It may take us time to finally obey but God is just there waiting for us to say, ‘Yes, I’ll do it.’
As servants, we are overwhelmed with responsibilities, and normally we get tired, we stumble and complain. As part of being called, we encounter loop holes along the way. Though we may suffer at times, we must not take calling as a suffering; it’s a gift that we must celebrate because God has called us to work for him and with him. Rejoice as we faithfully journey in fulfilling what we are called to do. It is our communion with God. Remember that fishermen do not just wander around the shore to catch fishes, they sail on their boats against the waves, and so are we too. We are called to be fishers of men. Sailing comes with waves, storms and strong winds. Let us paddle in faith, and let our faith come stronger than our fears.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth
and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.”
If God is ahead of us, then what is in the future are we afraid of? He chose us to not only work for him but to work with him hand in hand. We may not be able to put the words together when we stand in front of the people but he will do as he promised Jeremiah.
Don’t let your excuses trap you from obeying him. Today, allow God to appoint you from nations to kingdoms he has set for you as you bring glory to His Name.
As servants, we are overwhelmed with responsibilities, and normally we get tired, we stumble and complain. As part of being called, we encounter loop holes along the way. Though we may suffer at times, we must not take calling as a suffering; it’s a gift that we must celebrate because God has called us to work for him and with him. Rejoice as we faithfully journey in fulfilling what we are called to do. It is our communion with God. Remember that fishermen do not just wander around the shore to catch fishes, they sail on their boats against the waves, and so are we too. We are called to be fishers of men. Sailing comes with waves, storms and strong winds. Let us paddle in faith, and let our faith come stronger than our fears.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth
and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.”
If God is ahead of us, then what is in the future are we afraid of? He chose us to not only work for him but to work with him hand in hand. We may not be able to put the words together when we stand in front of the people but he will do as he promised Jeremiah.
Don’t let your excuses trap you from obeying him. Today, allow God to appoint you from nations to kingdoms he has set for you as you bring glory to His Name.
Shared Goodness
Jesus, after his death, appeared to Mary Magdalene and sooner to his disciples in another form (Mark 16:9-12). After seeing the risen Christ, they went to the countries to tell the rest what they have witnessed.
How do you think He appears during our times? He doesn’t come to you physically but in the form of the Holy Spirit.Christ reveals himself to us in many different ways. Like Mary and Jesus’ disciples, I have had many encounters with him, and I know you have your own personal encounters with him too.
In this time of pandemic, how did you notice him working in the midst of the constantly increasing number of COVID patients? People might be asking what God has been doing all these times while the world is suffering so much more than it can hold? But believe me when I say, God is here with us. If he was meant to appear to Mary and sooner to his disciples after his death, he is also present with us daily. No pandemic, tragedy or storm can stop him from working.
Notice that in the passage, there were those who received the news but did not believe Jesus rose from the dead. This is also true to us disciples, there are times when we do not recognize him working in our midst. Especially in this time of trials we are in. It’s the hardest time of witnessing God. I was tested in my walk with God during the pandemic. I got struck by the series of problems I have had to face.
My faith was tested and it bended so much. But even though I am aware that my relationship with him is weakening, I was consistently conscious of his goodness and faithfulness during those trying times. He was there when I needed peace. He was my stillness. I felt safe whenever I ran to him. But at the same time, it became difficult for me to approach him because I know I’ve been distant. I was taking my Father for granted. He was sheltering me yet I came and went. I became silent of his goodness in my life. Those encounters I have with him were kept in me. And encountering this Easter passage made me realize that every encounter we have with God is meant to be proclaimed and heard by others.
These things that God has been doing for you are meant to be declared. They are your very testimonies to his present works in your life. They are personal and at the same time social. Do not try to contain God’s works or just decide to keep it to yourself as I did. Learn to be like Mary and Jesus’ disciples who went to the countries after witnessing he is alive. Because only by his works in our lives will people know Jesus is alive. So today, ask these two questions to yourself. First, do you still recognize God working in your life? Second, what do you do when you recognize his work?
Guided Prayer: Lord, thank you for the works of your Son, Jesus Christ.I pray that you will open my eyes to recognize your goodness. Give me that joy that Mary and the disciples had in declaring that your Son is alive so that I will also have the joy and passion to do so, especially now that the world needs you vastly. Lord, show yourself to your people that they may experience you once more.