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When God created us He had a purpose in mind. Like like an artist has a plan for a piece of art. An artist is usually inspired by something to create a piece of art and has a plan and a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is to just add beauty, or it may be more functional to hold flowers or utensils, or something from which to drink, maybe to carry light.
God uses the imagery of a potter sculpting a piece of pottery. “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NIV). God formed us in His image, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, …” Genesis 1:26 (NIV). And He has a plan for our lives, “For I know the plans I have for you, …” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).
When the potter takes a block of clay, or a lump of clay it has no aesthetic form. The clay out of the package is moist and pliable, it can be easily formed and molded into anything the potter wants.
But before the potter begins, the potter has a plan, a design and a purpose in mind for the pot. The clay is slapped down on the potter’s wheel and is pounded. It is kneaded like bread to get the air out. The potter does this for a few minutes and as he does this kneading process, the clay becomes warm and softer. The the clay is slapped down one more time on the wheel and as the wheel begins to turn the potter wraps his hands around the lump of clay and begins to give it form. The clay can get a little dry from the friction of the potter’s hands, so the potter wets his hands and adds water to the clay and continues to shape and form the pot.
Now comes the time to add more pressure, this time from the top to make an opening, hollowing out the inside. By adding pressure at certain points on the outside, the potter can create grooves and curves giving the pot some interest and design. The potter is almost done. The lip of the pot is formed and smoothed out, he gives the it one final spin on the wheel, checking it, looking it over. The wheel stops and he takes a piece of string, slides it under the newly formed pot and lifts it off the wheel.
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; …”
Isaiah 64:8
He takes it to a shelf with other pieces to dry for a few weeks. That clay, that lump of clay has been through a lot, pounding, kneading, spinning, pressure from all sides, from the top, emptied out, now resting on shelf, in the stillness, nothing happening, no movement, other pieces come and go, it’s still there just resting until the potter is ready to bake it.
The days pass and the potter takes the pot off the shelf. It is dry now. It is ready. It is ready to be baked in the kiln. The temperature in a kiln gets between 2124 – 2264 degrees Fahrenheit. The pot will bake for up to ten hours in the kiln. When the firing is complete and things have cooled down the potter takes the pot and gets it ready for its desired use.
The potter’s room is square like most rooms and as a matter of fact everything is square in the room, pictures, windows, furniture, books, bookcases, area rugs, tables, everything is square. The pot is round and will add contrast to the square room. (sometimes a contrast could be a compliment, opposites do attract). It will be obvious of it’s roundness. The pot will also have several uses. It will first hold fresh cut flowers. When the flowers fade the potter has another use, to hold paint brushes , pens, and pencils.
But one day the pot falls and breaks into several several pieces. Still, the potter loves this little pot and puts it back together. The cracks form an interesting pattern and the potter paints the cracks into a pretty motif. He adds more fresh flowers and water. The pot is holding water again. The pot is more beautiful with it’s pretty painted motif. It’s adding more beauty to the room, standing out even more.
How much like that pot are we after we are broken and healed? How have you experienced brokenness? Have you healed? Are you the same? What has changed for you?
Pause and think about your brokenness, where has it brought it you? How have you healed? Maybe you haven’t healed, maybe you’re in the process. There is hope and there’s more to this story, like there’s more to our brokenness. Stay tuned for next week.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
Psalm 119:36.
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And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hewbrews 13:16
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But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
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He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
Luke 24:6-7
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So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
Isaiah 41:10
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Colossians 4:5 – “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”(NIV)
We are all given 24 hours in a day, 1,440 minutes and God is in each minute of every hour. Time is a gift. We can choose how we spend our time and God encourages us to spend it on things that will last through eternity. 1 John 2:17 – “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. While these words John wrote may convict, try and reflect on them and see how you are spending your time. What are you giving your time to? Things that fade or things that will last? Many of the activities and services we do can become holy and pleasing just by acknowledging God’s presence in them. Washing dishes, doing laundry, mowing the lawn with gratitude, send emails with grace and love …practice being aware of God’s presence throughout the day. By doing this we will be investing in a realtionhship that will last for eternity. We were made for eternity. Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart…” We can invite God into the mundane things we do everyday. Washing the dishes, for example, need to be done for a clean and healthy home so our family can have clean plates from which to eat. By changing our heart attitude and doing it unto the Lord we are bringing God into our everyday, every hour, every minute. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, …”
Perhaps you have been giving into sinful cravings, spending time unwisely or being willfully blind to God’s presence. God invites you to confess your sin to Him. Whatever sins are troubling you, bring them to God with assurance that God is ready to forgive – 1 John 1:9. He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west – Psalm 103:12. He calls us His children – John 1:12
We can make the most of the time we have been given by living with discernment and wisdom, learning to distinguishing truth from falsehood and discerning the leaders that speak God’s truth from evil ones. We will know them by their fruit – Matthew 7:16. Are their lives producing fruits of the Holy Spirit? Ask for discernment as you choose the leaders to listen to.
“Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious].”
Colossians 4:5 (Amplified)
God is in every minute of our day. One way we can become more aware of God’s presence is to reflect at the end of the day and see where we saw God. What were you doing yesterday, this morning? Who or what was filling your mind? What were you busy doing? Who were you with? What were your thoughts in the afternoon? What did you eat for dinner? What type of media did you watch? Who did you speak to? How can you see God’s presence during those hours? Your hours sleeping were a waste of time. Rest is a gift of God. God ultimately establishes the work of our hands. God was there with you, watching over you while you were sleeping.
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
Colossians 4:5 (ASV)
God encourages us to make the most of our time. We don’t need to stress ourselves out increasing our productivity. We can please God as we do our work and recognize God’s presence in the work He has provided for us to do. God really is in every minute of every hour of every day. He did create day and night, He gave us time, let’s honor Him by using the gift of time wisely.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 24:27
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The Kedge Anchor 
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