Gary
06-22-2010, 06:47 AM
Isaiah 64:8. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
The Lord is the potter. He sometimes finds a piece of clay which he takes and begins to work on. It is not ready to be worked, it lacks pliability. So he places it on the shelf and lets it set.
Often he pulls it off and works with it. There are glimmers of pliability, but it will not continue to hold to its shape. It lacks strength. Again it is shelved.
In time the Potter pulls the clay off the shelf and works with it. It is still not to where he wishes it to be. Back on the shelf.
One day the Potter decides it is time for the clay to be made into something. So he chops it up, reworks the pieces, takes away any semblance of the original lump. He puts it in water, and presses and works it with his hands.
It slowly begins to gain the pliability and strength he desires. He then begins to shape it and mold into something that can be used for its purpose.
One last test, He places it in the fire and watches it carefully as it cures.
When he takes it out, it is fit to be used as he intended.
It is the same with us. We come to the Lord. He begins to work on us, but we don't have the pliability or strength we need to be used. So he allows us to sit on a shelf until we can be worked into our chosen shape and purpose.
Gary
The Lord is the potter. He sometimes finds a piece of clay which he takes and begins to work on. It is not ready to be worked, it lacks pliability. So he places it on the shelf and lets it set.
Often he pulls it off and works with it. There are glimmers of pliability, but it will not continue to hold to its shape. It lacks strength. Again it is shelved.
In time the Potter pulls the clay off the shelf and works with it. It is still not to where he wishes it to be. Back on the shelf.
One day the Potter decides it is time for the clay to be made into something. So he chops it up, reworks the pieces, takes away any semblance of the original lump. He puts it in water, and presses and works it with his hands.
It slowly begins to gain the pliability and strength he desires. He then begins to shape it and mold into something that can be used for its purpose.
One last test, He places it in the fire and watches it carefully as it cures.
When he takes it out, it is fit to be used as he intended.
It is the same with us. We come to the Lord. He begins to work on us, but we don't have the pliability or strength we need to be used. So he allows us to sit on a shelf until we can be worked into our chosen shape and purpose.
Gary