A Pastor and A Potter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had the opportunity to assist with a sermon at my church by demonstrating on the wheel while the pastor spoke, using pottery as an illustration to show God's hand upon our lives. While I demonstrated wedging and centering the clay on the wheel - reflecting that our lives need to be homogenous and centered, revolving spiritually around Christ - the pastor explained a bit about what clay was and how dry clay reacts when submerged in water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes we think we are all "finished" but we may need to be slaked down, dried a bit, wedged and reformed to God's greater purpose for our lives. Finally, when we think we are in fine and shapely form what happens?  He may change us from a vase into a pitcher.  Then he may add a handle or even a lid.  Will we ever know when we are complete in Christ?

 

What could be next for the life of a lump of God's clay?  We dry, we  mature and we harden.  After that we are READY for the firing (a couple of times at least!)  And in the end we come out shining and reflecting the character of Christ.

 

Clay and potters are used as examples throughout the bible. 

Here are just a few references if you would like to check them out:

 

Isaiah 29:14-16, 41:25, 45:9, 64:8, 

Jeremiah 18:2-10, 

Zechariah 11:12-13,

Matthew 27:3-10

It's quite interesting to note that Zechariah 11:12-13 was written about 400 years prior to Matthew 27:3-10.