The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)
This is an interesting passage. The prophet is instructed by God to go down to the potter’s house and make a few observations. There, he sees the artisan working, molding a piece of clay into a vessel.
At first, the clay is “marred” (NKJV). But the potter does not discard the clay, but in fact molds it into something else.
Jeremiah is told that the House of Israel is the clay and that God is the potter. In other words, the Lord establishes nations and brings them to an end. And, from an individual perspective, the Lord is sovereign over your life. And the best decision that you can make is to offer it back up to Him for His use.
God in Christ has called you to follow, love and serve Him. The Apostle John wrote: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 (ESV) This is the best decision you could ever make.
Ms. Adelaide Pollard was perplexed at a point in her life, wanting to travel to Africa and become a missionary. She attended a prayer meeting one evening in 1902 and a woman there prayed something to the effect: “Have your way with my life, O Lord.” So impressed with that prayer was Ms. Pollard that she penned what came to be known as a famous hymn in Christian worship, based on Jeremiah 18: “Have Thine own way, Lord; have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after Thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.”
May you renew your commitment to the Lord and follow His lead in all things.
Central to Life 