This morning, Bro. Dewayne sang such a precious song called, "He didn't throw away the clay."
Isaiah 64:8 reads:
"But now, O Lord, thou are our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand."
Potters are one of the oldest known craftsmen throughout history. The Lord used them to illustrate His points in teaching His children of His ways. Potters had a place where they would just toss out clay that couldn't be used. Often we look at certain people and wonder why God doesn't throw them away. We need to consider His Word concerning our own usefullness, and how we are like clay in His hands.
1. God thinks about you. He knew all about you before you WERE! The Holy Spirit can accomplish what He wants to do and succeed through you-if you follow Him. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that the Lord knows the thoughts He has toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil. When will we learn to put our lives in His hands, to be molded to His will?
2. God puts His eyes on you. He looks at the real you and sees the finished product. Pray that God's eyes are on you, delivering you from evil. Respect Him, fear the Lord, talk to Him and study His Word daily.
3. God puts His feet on you. The potter had to mix the clay with water, walk on it, sifting and squeezing out the rocks and debris, softening it, refining the clay. When it is cleaned of the impurities, He walks on it on the floor. Ever feel like you've been walked on? He smoothes out the lumps that would mar us and He makes us like Himself. Then He picks up the clay and puts it on the wheel, so He can put His hands on it and make it a vessel of honor that will never be marred. Learn to listen to the Lord's voice-He wants to take you where you will be used for the Master.
4. God puts us in the furnace. In the old days they sun-dried pottery, then they learned to fire the pieces. There has been pottery found that is centuries old. The firing time is crucial. Our Father knows exactly how long we can bear the heat and how hot the fire we can stand.
5. God scours and finishes us, preparing us for the final application of paint. That is the annointing. He brings you out of the fire, polishes, then paints you with His annointing. Not all of us turn out the same. Not all of us have the same gifts, the same glaze, but now we are able to be poured into-in order to pour out. Finally, God sees to it that the quality is there before He puts His name on it. Some vessels won't accept the pressure, being stubborn vessels, and falling apart. God has to start over, again and again, working the process all over again.
Where are you in this process?
