Morning Devotional

September  22, 2005
"The Potter's Shop" (Part 5)     
    by Don Emmitte

Home

If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will build up and plant a certain nation or kingdom, making it strong and great, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless that nation as I had said I would. (Jeremiah 18:7-10 NLT).

Is this the same God talking that also said, “I the Lord do not change”? Does God really change His mind? And, if God’s Word says that He has plans to bless and prosper me, will He change His mind on that as well? Can I really depend on a God who would change His mind? These are tough questions, but questions that deserve and have an answer. Our reading today brings us a little closer to understanding the peace that comes from realizing the safest place for us to be is in the “Potter’s Shop” and under the potter’s control.

First, let’s put this passage into context with the entirety of Scripture. Scripture should always interpret Scripture. First, God is Sovereign. Scripture is clear that God is overall in control. In the end, God wins every time. It is next important to understand that God has an ultimate plan and He is working all things towards that plan. What happens in between now and the completion of that plan is where God is sometimes “flexible”, for lack of a better term. God’s overall plan will not have changed, but He may allow some altering of the path towards reaching the completion of His end plan.

I know that is confusing so let me illustrate it like this. If you were to leave my house in North Carolina and head to my son’s house in Texas there are several routes you could take. In fact, we often talk about taking either the southern or the northern route. One goes through the southern states and the other through the mountains of Tennessee. Ultimately one route is probably best, but you could get there from several directions. In accomplishing God’s end goal for our life, God sometimes allows different courses of reaching that end goal. There is a more direct and best way of getting there, and discovering that course should be one of the chief goals of the Christian life, but God will allow us to take turns that are not really His best plan for us. In that way, God has allowed His plan to be altered, but the end overall plan remains the same. I know that’s not very clear!

However, we can know this - God has a plan for your life. He wants us to learn and know His plan, and most importantly He wants us to follow His plan. In the end, when this life is over, God’s plan for your life and mine will succeed. Our best course of action would be to get in on that plan today! Tomorrow we’ll talk more about getting to know that plan. Today, commit yourself to walking with Him at your side.