Line 1:

{{DOD-August}}

{{DOD-August}}

+

In chapter 15:1-22, the [[Lord]]'s answer came to [[Jeremiah]]. Intercession was rejected and the nation's fate was sealed. The [[prophet]]'s grief was followed by the [[Lord]]'s reply (verses 10-21). The nation of [[Israel]] should have remembered II Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and [[pray]], and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from [[heaven]], and will forgive their [[sin]], and will heal their land." But they did not heed [[God]]'s call--they did not repent--they did not turn from their wicked ways, in spite of the faithfulness of the weeping [[prophet]], [[Jeremiah]].

+

In chapter 18 the [[prophet]] visits the potter's house and watches him mold the clay. This is a picture of [[God]]'s [[grace]]. As we read of the potter and the clay, we can see a picture of our lives and our relationship to [[God]]. Each object has a meaning. [[God]] is the Potter, and our lives are in His hands. We are not controlled by some invisible force or by blind fate. We are in the hands of a Person, Almighty [[God]]. He is not just our Creator. He is our Father if we have, by [[faith]], accepted His Son. He has a personal concern for our lives. He is the power that molds us. Clay cannot mold itself; neither does man have the power to mold his own life. He makes it very clear that He is sovereign over all men (verses 6-10). Of course, this does not mean that [[God]] is to blame for the sins of man or failures of nations, but it does mean that He is all-powerful and Almighty, and He desires the free will that He has given us to be used for Him rather than for serving the devil.

+

Another way that [[God]] is like the potter is that He has a perfect plan for our lives. He, like the potter, sees the finished product in His mind. We cannot see [[God]]'s plan for us, but He promises that if we will trust Him and turn our lives over to Him, the final outcome of our lives will be wonderful.

+

The patience of the potter can be easily compared to the patience [[God]] uses to direct our lives. Often He uses the hands of others to help shape us--parents, teachers, fellow [[Christians]], and even those who persecute us. It takes time to make a worthwhile product, and [[God]] is patient as He deals with us. Of course, in [[Jeremiah]]'s message the clay represents the nation of [[Israel]], but we are not wrong in applying it to our lives today. [[Christians]] are [[God]]'s vessels, molded by Him to contain the treasures of the Gospel and to give forth that Gospel. Clay is a mixture of dust and water. We are of the dust (Psalm 103:14), but the water of the [[Spirit]] of [[God]] has given us life through [[faith]] in [[Jesus Christ]]. Clay is of no value in itself, but it can become something great if molded by the right hands, for the right purpose. We are worthless to [[God]] unless we allow Him to mold our lives into what He has for us to do.

Template:DOD protected/August 15 - Revision history

Prab at 02:29, 6 October 2015

Prab: Created page with "{{DOD-August}}"

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:29, 6 October 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{DOD-August}}		{{DOD-August}}
		+
		+	In chapter 15:1-22, the [[Lord]]'s answer came to [[Jeremiah]]. Intercession was rejected and the nation's fate was sealed. The [[prophet]]'s grief was followed by the [[Lord]]'s reply (verses 10-21). The nation of [[Israel]] should have remembered II Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and [[pray]], and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from [[heaven]], and will forgive their [[sin]], and will heal their land." But they did not heed [[God]]'s call--they did not repent--they did not turn from their wicked ways, in spite of the faithfulness of the weeping [[prophet]], [[Jeremiah]].
		+
		+	In chapter 18 the [[prophet]] visits the potter's house and watches him mold the clay. This is a picture of [[God]]'s [[grace]]. As we read of the potter and the clay, we can see a picture of our lives and our relationship to [[God]]. Each object has a meaning. [[God]] is the Potter, and our lives are in His hands. We are not controlled by some invisible force or by blind fate. We are in the hands of a Person, Almighty [[God]]. He is not just our Creator. He is our Father if we have, by [[faith]], accepted His Son. He has a personal concern for our lives. He is the power that molds us. Clay cannot mold itself; neither does man have the power to mold his own life. He makes it very clear that He is sovereign over all men (verses 6-10). Of course, this does not mean that [[God]] is to blame for the sins of man or failures of nations, but it does mean that He is all-powerful and Almighty, and He desires the free will that He has given us to be used for Him rather than for serving the devil.
		+
		+	Another way that [[God]] is like the potter is that He has a perfect plan for our lives. He, like the potter, sees the finished product in His mind. We cannot see [[God]]'s plan for us, but He promises that if we will trust Him and turn our lives over to Him, the final outcome of our lives will be wonderful.
		+
		+	The patience of the potter can be easily compared to the patience [[God]] uses to direct our lives. Often He uses the hands of others to help shape us--parents, teachers, fellow [[Christians]], and even those who persecute us. It takes time to make a worthwhile product, and [[God]] is patient as He deals with us. Of course, in [[Jeremiah]]'s message the clay represents the nation of [[Israel]], but we are not wrong in applying it to our lives today. [[Christians]] are [[God]]'s vessels, molded by Him to contain the treasures of the Gospel and to give forth that Gospel. Clay is a mixture of dust and water. We are of the dust (Psalm 103:14), but the water of the [[Spirit]] of [[God]] has given us life through [[faith]] in [[Jesus Christ]]. Clay is of no value in itself, but it can become something great if molded by the right hands, for the right purpose. We are worthless to [[God]] unless we allow Him to mold our lives into what He has for us to do.