“Then I [Jeremiah] went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Said the LORD; Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:3-6)
If You Are Asking Today, “Why Am I Going Through All That I’m Going Through?” The Answer Is: You’re “In The Hand Of The Potter!”
Knowing that alone helps, especially when you’re on the wheel and everything in your life seems to be spinning and spiraling completely out of control! I use the word “seems”, because in Actuality, your life is not spinning and spiraling completely out of control. All You Need To Do Is Look Under The Table And See Whose Foot Is On The Wheel! “…Behold, He (The Potter) wrought a work ON THE WHEELS” Many of us have seen wheels spin on bikes, motorcycles, cars, trains and the like, and when those wheels get to spinning, if you stare at them long enough it can make you dizzy! The speed is swift as it goes around and around in circles! And sometimes, as believers, that’s how our lives feel when God has His foot on the potter’s wheel! Everything feels like it’s spinning completely out of control, but the potter has been doing this far too long to not know how to control the speed of the spin! And God likewise, has not loss control of your life even when the marriage, kids, family, job, finances, health, business and church all seem to be spinning at 200 MPH in all different directions at the exact same time! But Be Encouraged, The Potter’s Foot Knows How To Handle The Speed Of The Wheel!
“…behold, He (The Potter) Wrought a work on the wheels” Now the word “Wrought” means “Beaten Out or Shaped by Hammering.” This may hurt you, but it will eventually help you, listen, the pain you THINK is the devil, is Really Just The Potter Reshaping You! Think About It, If The Enemy Had Been In Control Of Your Situation, He’d Have Thrown You Off The Wheel A Long Time Ago! But He Can’t, Because The Potter Controls The Process, The Wheels And The Wrought! And all this time you’ve been giving the devil credit for a work he didn’t do! The devil wants to steal, kill and destroy you, not work on you for the better! Yes, the hammering hurts, it’s painful, it’s difficult, it’s uncomfortable, but it’s God’s process! And most important, the Hammer is in the Hand of God! This should serve as great encouragement to you that no hurt, harm or hindrance will come of it. He’s simply shaping you to become the masterpiece He already designed you to be! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP) That’s what all the hammering is about! It’s transforming us, renewing us, and making us ready to be used by God for good works as His workmanship, His own Master Work, His own Work of Art! And you really thought the devil was behind all of that goodness?! Absolutely not! Stop adding skills to the devil’s resume for work he couldn’t and didn’t do!
But Listen To What The Devil Would Have You Focus On: “… And the vessel that he made of clay was MARRED in the hand of the potter…” The devil doesn’t want you to focus on the Masterpiece God is creating you to be, he wants you to focus on the fact that you’ve become Marred in the Potter’s Hand! But what he doesn’t know, however, is that God is Monitoring Your Every Move! Now, I know how messed up you think you are because you’ve been “Marred”, but understand that when something is “Marred” it’s defined as “to Harm the Appearance or Quality of.” And let’s be honest, the devil isn’t trying to simply Harm You, Or Harm Your Appearance, Or Harm Your Quality, he’s trying to DESTROY YOU! Which is why the Bible forewarns us: “The Thief’s Purpose Is To Steal, Kill And Destroy…” (John 10:10 Tlb). Therefore, If It Was The Devil’s Foot On The Wheel, You Would Be Dead By Now! But since he can’t kill you, he tries to distract you by getting you to focus on stuff that matters to you, but doesn’t matter to God, stuff like your marring, your mess up, your mistakes, and especially your past! But beloved, before you go and lose heart, know this, you’re simply “Marred” and Fortunately, God is Not Intimated By Your “Marring”. He’s not intimidated by the clay regardless of where He finds it or how flawed and out of shape it is. Truth is: We Seriously Give Our Past Way Too Much Power, Because God Is Not At All Intimidated By It Or What It Has Caused Us To Look Like! He’s not intimidated by our past promiscuity, addictions, mess-ups, screw-ups, or mistakes. He’s not intimidated by our ex friends, lovers or spouses. He’s committed to working on us until we become what He wants or better yet, “As Seemed Good to the Potter…”
Listen: I don’t care what you’ve done, who you did it with, how long you did it or where, no man has the right or authority to hold you captive by your past, neither the devil, not even you! Your “Marring” did not mess you up for all eternity! There is no accidental mistake, or deliberate bad decision that you’ve ever made (or will make) that the Potter cannot make over into what seems Good to Him! You still have use, you still have value, you still have worth and you still have purpose! So let nothing and no one (not even YOU) allow your past to make you believe that you have no future! The Word of God still holds true for you, regardless to your past: “This is God’s Word on the subject…I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the FUTURE you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:10-11 MSG). In the words of my pastor, you need to start saying daily to yourself: “I See Myself In The Future And Things Look So Much Better. I’m Expecting A Miracle, And My Miracle Is Expecting Me!” (Bishop James R. Chambers). So you see, if God Himself is not hindered by your Past, why should you be? “He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12 TLB). Therefore, marred vessels, keep moving forward, “Marred” and all! God can still make you the light of the world, no matter how dark your past was! God Still Uses Cracked Pots!
Listen: A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to her master’s house. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream: “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your mistress’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, “As we return to the mistress’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? “That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. “For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my mistress’s table. Without you being just the way you are, she would not have this beauty to grace her house.”
Moral of the story: Just as the water bearer knew of the flaw in the cracked pot, God knows about our flaws too. The water bearer continued to use the cracked pot, knowing full well of its flaws, and God uses us just the same, even with full knowledge of our every flaw! It’s US who focus on our flaws more than we focus on fulfilling our purpose in God.
For example, Benjamin felt small; Gideon felt insignificant; Moses felt his speech hindered him from being God’s mouthpiece, and yet God used each of them in a big way, flaws and all, and He’s using you the same way! God never asks for our perfection, just our availability. The question is, are we willing to give God our flaws that He may use them to bring Himself Glory?
Think about the above story, the perfect pot delivered a pail full of water. And that’s what it was designed to do. But the cracked pot was designed to deliver water, AND purposed to water the seeds that the water bearer would sow along the journey. So the mistress house received from the cracked pot, water and flowers for her home. God can do more with your imperfections than He can with your false views and attempts of perfection. Just ask God to use you, available, cracked you. I promise you’ll be amazed by the harvest that’s produced in the lives of others because you gave God your cracked water pot to use!
To take it further, bear in mind: John 1:12 “As many as received Him, to them gave He power TO BECOME the sons of God.” Always Remember: The Battle Is Over Who And What You’re Becoming! Regardless of what you’ve been up until now, God Sees In You The Potential To Become! And what are you to become? “…a vessel unto honor and sanctified for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21). Listen: When You See Can’t In Yourself, GOD SEES A “CAN”. When You See Won’t In Yourself, GOD SEES A “WILL”. When You See Don’t In Yourself, GOD SEES A “DO” When You See Shouldn’t In Yourself, GOD SEES A “SHOULD”.
God Will Always Put Your Potential On A Pedestal!
In Other Words, He Will Always Lift Up What You Will Be, Not What You Have Been!
Cracks and all, you are still becoming “…a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Highlight for yourself from John 1:12, “to them gave He Power TO BECOME…” That’s what the devil is after to destroy, WHAT YOU WILL BECOME! Don’t let him do it! Don’t let the devil distract or discourage you! Stay focused on what God Said no matter what the devil would want you to see! You are Becoming a wonderful, useful, cracked vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for your Master’s use, for He is preparing you for every good work! Do not lose sight of the big picture stay focused on what you are becoming!
In a Nutshell: The Devil’s Not Intimidated By Your Caterpillar Stage, Because You’re On The Ground, Low, At His Level, Defeated, And Struggling To Crawl By. But What Intimidates Him Is Your Butterfly Stage, Because You Then Possess The Ability To Fly, To Soar, To Excel, And To Reach Altitudes He Can’t Reach! You see, some snakes can sliver through trees, but when it reaches a certain height, it can reach no further. But the Butterfly Isn’t Limited to Where the Tree Top Stops! And Neither Are You! That’s why you can’t get distracted from what you’re becoming! Children of God, it’s time for you to soar, but if you keep allowing your past, the devil, discouragement, and low self-worth to hinder you, you’ll remain in a cocoon with undeveloped wings that were designed and destined to soar! You were never meant to stay on this level! The cocoon is only for a time period; then you break out of it fully developed and soar to new heights!
“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hind’s feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!…” (Habakkuk 3:19 AMP)
You Were Made For High Places, So Stop Settling For Low Positions!
Notice also, that even though the vessel was “Marred”, It Was Still In The Potter’s Hand! God Never Throws Us Away, Nor Is His Plan For Us Thwarted Because We Have a Flaw of Struggle in Certain Areas! Understand that whether you’re being lifted from the mud, turned on the wheel or made over again, At All Times You Are In His Hand, and Always Will Be! “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall Never Perish, Neither Shall Any Man Pluck Them Out of My Hand.” (John 10:28) So, Be Encouraged: You Are In The Potter’s Hands, And His Hands Never Stop Working!” “But Jesus said, “My Father Has Never Stopped Working…” (John 5:17 CEV) Therefore, even if you continue to mar in the master’s hand, which you will as long as you are still flesh and blood, but the good news is, that can’t hinder the Hand of God on your life! From birth to death and everything in between, God never stops working on you and your life! So even when you make more mistakes, and even deliberate sinful choices, God never stops working on you! Don’t let the devil, your past, or yourself make you believe anything different! There is nothing about you or your life or your past that is powerful enough to Hinder the Hand of God’s Work!
I found yet another little nugget too! Did you know the word “Smith” in “Silversmith” comes from the Old English word “Smite”? Well, in case you didn’t know, Silversmiths are very Accomplished Smiters! AND SO IS GOD! You see the word “Smite” is defined as “Striking a Firm Blow”. In other words, God Knows the Weight of the Hammer and the Force of the Blow Required to Produce In You Christ-Like Character! And absolutely no one yanks the hammer out of His hand and says, “Go easy on that silver; you’ve pounded it enough!” No, He Buffets the Metal Until He’s Finished With It! And when you “Buffet” something, it means you “Strike It Repeatedly and Violently”. In other words, there is a Determination on the part of the Silversmith to Beat the Silver Into the Design He Envisioned It To Be! And He Will Beat It Until It Conforms to What He has Constructed in His Mind! He Will Beat it Until the Blueprint Comes Off the Pages and Stands Before Him Fully Erected! He Will Beat it Until He Sees With His Eyes What He Saw in His Thoughts! And the Same Goes For You!
Too often we forget He’s Our Heavenly FATHER! And unlike today, Daddies of old didn’t spare the rod, nor spoil the child! So, keep in mind: He’s Your God, but He’s Also Your FATHER! “But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; A Father’s Delight Is Behind All Of This.” (Proverbs 3:12 MSG); “For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.” (Hebrews 12:6 AMP)
Please Understand that Your God Will Bless You, But Never Forget, Your Father Will Buffet You Too!
In the end, God Alone Knows Exactly What You’re to Look Like. He Was the One that Gathered All Your Materials BEFORE Time! “BEFORE I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. BEFORE you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—That’s What I Had In Mind For You” (Jeremiah 1:5 MSG). Before You Began, He Already Knew How You’d End! So Stop Fretting! He Already Knows How Fabulous Your Finished Product Looks!
I know the Blows come Fast and Hard, and it seems like they’ll never end, but you have to Trust that God Knows What He’s Doing!
However, sadly enough, I wish I could tell you that after the Hammering and Buffeting is Done You’re Finished, BUT…then there has to be POLISHING! And when you “Polish” something you “Make It Smooth and Shiny By Continuously Rubbing It!” And the Best of Silversmiths will tell you that they Keep Polishing Until They Can See Their Face In The Finished Product! So, When Will God Stop Polishing You? When He Sees His Nature and His Likeness Reflected In You! In other words, when He looks at you, He ought to see, Integrity, Faithfulness, Dedication, Power, Consecration, Diligence, Obedience, Honor, Loyalty, Leadership, Commitment and the like. He ought to see “…the Fruit of the Spirit…Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Simply put, He’s Done When He Looks At You And Sees Himself!
And if we’re all to be Real Honest, God Is No-Where Near Finished Smiting, Buffeting or Polishing Any Of Us! Jesus said, “My Father Never Stops Working.” Therefore, you need to understand that: The Pounding You Feel Doesn’t Suggest God’s Distance, It Proves His Nearness! So Stop Attributing Everything to the Devil!
Lastly, after a lifetime of walking with God, Joshua said, “Not a Word Failed of Any Good Thing Which the Lord Had Spoken…All Came to Pass.” (Joshua 21:45 NKJV).
Understand that Whatever God Has Spoken Over Your Life, He’s Not Stopping Until He Sees It “All Come to Pass”! And If That Takes Smiting, Buffeting and Polishing…He’s Committed To Doing Whatever It Takes, For However Long It Takes and No Matter How Painful It Will Be…”Not A Word Failed Of Any Good Thing Which The Lord Had Spoke. All Came To Pass!” He’s Still Working On You Because All That He Has Spoken Has Yet To Manifest In Your Life. And He Has To Keep His Word! So Endure The Wheel, the Spinning, the Hammering, the Smiting, the Buffeting and the Polishing! In The End It Will Be Worth It To Possess All God Has Promised You! God is the Greatest of Silversmiths. Trust Him as you imagine what you’re going to look like When He’s All Done. In the meantime, Remember: The Potters Hands Are Not Finished Molding You Yet! So, Don’t Be Discouraged In The Process, You Will Produce Something Great After This Is All Over!
You are becoming a vessel of honor in the Master’s Hand and for the Master’s use, cracks, flaws, imperfections and all. So, don’t hate the process, because you’re going to love the end product!
As Painful As This Is, Be Encouraged My Friend You May Have Been Marred, but Now You’re Being Molded and Made Into a Masterpiece Cracked Vessel of Honor for the Master’s Use and Glory!
Blessings
J.P. Olson
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