Morning Devotional

September  18, 2005
"The Potter's Shop" (Part 1)     
    by Don Emmitte

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The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, "Go down to the shop where clay pots and jars are made. I will speak to you while you are there." So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so the potter squashed the jar into a lump of clay and started again. Then the LORD gave me this message: "O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. (Jeremiah 18:1-6 NLT).

God is in the process of making and molding us. He is always shaping our character by the events that take place in our lives. God is much more concerned about our character than our comfort. Naturally, we will do anything to avoid pain, when it is the very pain we want to avoid that builds Christ’s character in us. Character is formed more by the trials we go through than by the times of blessing in our lives.

In order to hear a word from God we have to meet God on His terms. God will go to extreme measures to reach one of His children, but to hear from God requires us to be in a listening position with God. The non-Christian cannot discern the will of God for their life. God communicates with His children exclusively, except to call sinners to repentance. Even in the life of a Christian sin can hinder our relationship with God and keep us from hearing Him when He chooses to speak. Our own busyness and the normal distractions of life can also keep us from hearing God.

God wanted to speak to Jeremiah and He was going to use pottery as a part of His discussion. Sometimes God will use situations in our life to gain our attention and illustrate for us His agenda. You and I, if we want to hear from God, must continually rid our lives of sin, strive to walk in obedience with Him daily, free our life of unneeded clutter, slow down long enough to listen for the voice of God, and watch for God in the midst of the normal routine and places of life.

God is not trying to hide His voice from you or me. In fact, if we aren’t hearing, it’s most likely because we aren’t listening. This week I want to spend a little time examining how we may learn to listen better to the voice of God. It begins with a commitment to go down to the “Potter’s Shop.” Are you willing to do whatever it takes to hear the voice of God? He has great things for us to know. He sees the path before us and He wants to lead us down it within His will. Let’s listen!

Dear Lord, take me to the Potter’s Shop. I do want to hear your voice no matter what the cost. I do want to be what you desire for me to be. Mold me in your hands to be your perfect container.