Devotion for June 29

Devotion

June 29, 2011

Jeremiah 18: 1-11

When I was in grade school, a woman from my church congregation had a small pottery studio in her home.  Once a year, all the elementary classes from our small-town grade school took a field trip to Vi’s house to see the pottery wheel and kiln; then we returned to school and made clay creations of our own.  I was always fascinated by the pottery wheel.  Vi made it look so easy:  taking the wet clay, working it between her fingers, shaping it into different size jars on the wheel, then smashing it down and starting all over again.  We learned about the importance of working the clay first, to get out all the air bubbles.  If even one air bubble remained, it could ruin the final piece.  When I received my lump of clay, back at my classroom desk, I discovered it was not nearly as easy as Vi had made it look.  It was hard to work the clay, and impossible for a 10-year-old to know if all the air bubbles were out.  I also lacked vision.  Whereas Vi had an idea of how she wanted each piece to turn out, I could never think of anything unique to make.

As today’s reading from Jeremiah shows, God works in a way that is very similar to a potter creating jars at the wheel.  He molds and shapes us like clay.  We are His creation, His work of art.  He has a vision for us, and each of us is unique.  God might make it look easy, like Vi at her wheel, but we know it is not.  We are stubborn, like the lumps of clay from my childhood, not wanting to be shaped in a particular direction.  We also know that sin, like air bubbles, has a way of entering into our lives.  Even the tiniest sin can ruin the entire creation.  Fortunately, God has the power to smash out those air bubbles, to take away our sins, and return us to that perfect art form someday.  No matter how hard it is, or how many times He has to re-shape us on the wheel, God won’t give up. 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, You are the Potter, we are the clay.  Mold us in your image and help us to be good examples of Your artistry in the world.  Thank you for never giving up on us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.