“Can I Not Do With You As This Potter Has Done?”

Today’s Bible reading is Jeremiah 18 and Matthew 5.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand… (Jer 18:1-4)

The entire nation of Israel in Jeremiah’s day could be compared to this “spoiled” lump of clay–full of potential in the right hands, now marred, misshaped, distorted, and warped.

Maybe those ugly words describe your personal life in 2020–your perspective on the present, your hope for the future, your marriage, the atmosphere of your home, or your relationship with God–marred, misshapen, distorted, and warped.

But listen…

…he reworked [the clay] into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” (Jer 18:1-6)

This isn’t a question of his presence, desire, or ability.

Your misshaped mess is no match for the reforming skill of the Potter.

The question for Israel then and the question for us today is this: has everything, everything been surrendered to his will? My public and private life? My perspective? My hope and joy? My marriage? My home? My integrity? My priorities? He can rework anything for my good and his glory if I will soften my will and allow him to shape it all “as it seems good to him to do.”

So I invite you to think about his question throughout the day. “Can I not do with you as this potter has done?”

Then pray as Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”