I got to thinking… what did WE expect when we accepted the Lordship of Jesus? Did we expect that everything in our lives would ‘suddenly’ be…stressless, easier, better (undefined)? That we’d never have a problem ever again? Why? Why did we think that – and when we woke the next morning and found everything the same … what did we think? How did we respond after the most defining moment in our lives had occurred? Was our focus solely on everything outside of us? Do you read, anywhere in scripture, that miraculously that life would be a bed of roses? NO! But did we secretly hope for that? In fact Jesus tells us
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, …
So now that you see things haven’t changed, what will you do? Walk away? Some do. Jesus talks about this in His parable of the sower.
“He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field]; and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out. Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.” [Matthew 13:3-9]
In accepting Jesus you receive so much and even if the only gift He brought was your salvation and the escape from hell – it would be enough. But He brought so much more. And part of the ‘more’ is seen in the rest of the John 16:33 verse. He also says:
but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” (John 16:33)
What does what I just said have to do with ‘potter and clay’. More than you think. Let me use just one of countless examples: you will discover gifts. With Jesus we receive mercy, we receive grace, we receive a meaningful life. And in terms of our lives…every believer is given a gift, a calling, a ministry that only that person can fulfill. Granted many others may share the gift, but they express it according to their personality and experiences… just like you. But you need to learn how to share and express your gifts. (This is always your decision. We are called as an Ambassadors – 1 Corinthians – but it is our decision to become His Ambassador.)
You can choose to disregard the gifts or you can say: “Reporting for duty Sir”. And jump up onto the Potter’s wheel. The Lord’s not going to remake you into someone you don’t know. I believe He’s an enhancer. He’s already put talents and gifts into us, why would He waste this? Answer: He wouldn’t!!! What we now experience is a season of growing (which honestly will never end because there’s soooo much to learn). This season is meant to help us learn, to become who the Lord has always seen in us. However, this requires us being willing. I’m not going to relate all that occurs once Jesus is your Lord… but as you read and study the Bible, you will discover the treasure that awaits you.
Crucial to this though is our willingness to study, to learn, to grow, to become all we can be. In Isaiah 64:8, he says:
“Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our Potter, And we all are the work of Your hand.”
In Romans, it is discussed slightly differently:
“O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]?” [Romans 9: 20-21]
The questions are rhetorical and though the answers are too, that isn’t always how we answer. Another slant on this concept is:
“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].” [Ephesians 2: 10]
The utterly remarkable reality is that He did everything for us… we did nothing. But in the simple act on our part of accepting Him … we receive everything. It’s our choice to let Him mold us into His effective witness we can become.
