“However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, (so) that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (Amplified)
Something I enjoy doing any time the opportunity arises is walking barefoot down a stretch of beach. In most instances, these seaside strolls evoke a profound sense of my own smallness and God’s greatness. Each shell investigated carries with it an untold story of change and transition. The sand and surf serve as a testimony to the rhythm of God’s persistent and unbreakable love. And so today, I am reminded of the words from Terry Talbot’s song, “Potter’s Clay”.
“I’m like a stone thrown through the waves, I’m falling … and the waves all mold me as they may … to be unborn, and then to hear the callin’, that I’m still, still the Potter’s clay.”
Our little branch on The Vine has been blessed through the centuries with leaders whose lives of witness continue to speak, long after they no longer move among us. One of those persons, for me, is the late, Bishop Rueben P. Job. I hope his words speak to you as they speak to me:
“Conversion is a partnership project. We cannot transform ourselves. And God does not transform us against our wishes. However, once we invite God’s transforming presence into our lives, we cannot know what God has in store for us until we begin to live in harmony and companionship with God. The important thing is inviting God to be the master potter in our lives. We may not know what the end product will be, but we do know that it will be good when we permit God to be the potter and we agree to be the malleable clay.”
A number of years ago, my former District Superintendent penned these words in response to what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:
GREAT UNSEEN HANDS are at work, moving in and over the feeble, selfish dust. FINGERS OF PERFECTION, intent in love to knead our brokenness into usefulness, are shaping these frail vessels of earth, filling us to the utter brimmed-limits with GOD’S PRECIOUS TREASURE.
Here’s to a LIFE shaped by the Hands of the Master Potter … and to clay willing to receive it.
Blessings and Peace!
Pastor Eric
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