The Pot and the Potter

It never ceases to amaze me what God uses to put a thought in my head to write as a devotion. Sometimes the intent is very clear, other times I have to ponder it for a bit and do a little digging before he shows me what I am to write. The scripture that came to mind for this lesson was a familiar one but I had to dig deeper to get what I felt was the direction the Lord was taking me.

As I was cleaning up some plants and pots on my patio, this scripture came to me so clearly that I stopped what I was doing to read it for myself. It is 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us.” What exactly was I to get from this verse? I wasn’t even cleaning any clay pots! I highlighted the verse and went back to the patio running this over and over in my mind.

What I have learned in my deep dive on this verse is that you and I are the clay pots, some translations use earthen vessels, and that treasure that is spoken of is the Gospel. I see two thoughts here: (1) clay pots are fragile and therefore easily broken and (2) the pots are shaped and molded by the hands of the potter. We know that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9) and our Heavenly Father is the Master Potter.

We are formed and shaped for the work God has in His plan for us, and no matter how fragile or weak we are if we are living in His will, we have that awesome power of His strength working through us. We must be careful to give the glory and honor to Him for it all. If we were pieces of perfection, without flaws, beautiful and polished then others would see us and not Christ.

To help us remember who we are read Psalm 139, focusing on verse 13, “You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb.” The passage goes on to tell us that God saw us and even then His plan was being written for our lives.

In these days of confusion and chaos sometimes it can be easy to become discouraged and for a moment forget whose child we are.

Below is a prayer for when you need a reminder who you belong to and what treasure each of us hold.

Dear God, there are moments when I forget who I am and the treasure you have given me. In my moments of doubt and weakness, would you remind me that you have chosen me? You have placed within me a treasure that will strengthen me in my greatest weakness. Would you help me remember who it is that you have made me to be…and who it is that lives within me? Help me to live in the power that’s been given to me. Amen. (Crosswalk.com)