The Potter

Isaiah 64:8 reads, “Yet You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” Have you ever thought about the deeper meaning of this verse?

As Believers we sometimes sing that God is the Potter and we are the clay asking Him to mold us. We may talk about surrendering or being sold out to the Lord. But what does that look like?

Before a potter begins work the clay must first be prepared for his wheel. In this process all air bubbles are removed. The potter understands that to skip or not be thorough in this step can cause many problems later including the vessel exploding during the firing process.

Watching a potter at work can be interesting. As the wheel spins the potter is very focused on the clay. He has a finished piece in mind that at first isn’t visible to those who are watching the vessel develop. In time though a shape begins to emerge. In order for that to happen the potter’s wheel must continually move and the potter must keep his attention on his work.

Once the piece is formed it is put on a shelf to dry, even covered for a few days. Then comes the fire! It may be tempting to want out of the process at this point but the heat is preparation for the color and or designs the potter desires to add.

The second firing occurs at this point. This is a very important step for a finished piece of pottery to have the value the potter envisioned when he began with a lump of clay. It is the firing of the clay that makes it strong and durable. It is the firing that makes the vessel able to hold liquids. It is the firing that causes the clay to be forever changed into a vessel fit for the Master’s use.

There is a process clay must go through to get from a piece of clay to a finished vessel fit for the potter’s use. The process takes time. Besides the times when the potter is working there are also drying times and firing time is very hot— those times in the process the vessel may feel alone. Be encouraged because it is part of the process. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial….”

We all have to go through the process of perseverance. Where are you in the process? Is the Potter removing air bubbles? Are you on His wheel? Do you feel alone or that you are on a shelf? Perhaps you feel you are in a fire. Wherever you are in the process please know, the Potter has a plan and He is fashioning a beautiful Vessel of honor fit for His use. (2 Timothy 2:20-26)