“Yesterday,” Stan mentioned, “I found out something about a neighbor’s amazing talent I had not known before.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I was taking the dog for a walk,” he said, “and I went by a neighbor’s house. The garage door was open and I saw that the neighbor was sitting at a pottery wheel working on something. She glanced up, waved, and motioned for me to come over.”
“She stopped what she was doing and we had a wonderful conversation about making pottery. She showed me some of the pieces she had made that were absolutely amazing. I had no idea she did that.”
Continuing, he added, “She also showed me what she was working on. She told me that she found making the pottery to be very relaxing and that she just loved to see the end result, whatever it might be. She also said it had a great spiritual lesson for her.”
“In what way?”
“She said she is thankful the clay doesn’t argue with her about what she’s making. Just like God doesn’t want her to argue about what He’s making.”
“Argue with God?” I replied. “That doesn’t seem like a real good idea.”
“Exactly,” Stan responded, “but I can sure testify that I’ve done a lot of that in my life, thinking I know a whole lot better than God does what’s best for me. It took me a long time to realize that clay is not supposed to argue. As well, this is something I have to be reminded about on a regular basis.”
“Clay not supposed to argue? How’s that?”
“God is the potter; I am the clay. I am to have such absolute confidence in God that I give Him all of me to mold, shape, and transform exactly as He wants. I am not to resist what he wants, but I am to give Him total and free access to every part of my life to do with as He wants.”
“Sounds kind of like the first step in being a disciple,” I responded. “Denying self.”
“Yeah,” Stan replied, “not only denying self, but also surrendering and abandoning all I want apart from God, in solemn preference to giving me to God for Him to do whatever He wants without arguing with Him about it!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker — an earthenware vessel among the vessels of the earth! Will the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing?” Isaiah 45:9.
But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou art the potter; and all of us are the works of Thy hand. Isaiah 64:8.
Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use? Romans 9:21.
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Matthew 26:39.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for all you want to do in and through me in the time I have remaining here before I board the train to spend eternity in your presence. I confess that too often I resist what you want to do with the life you have given me to live for you. Please help me in following every step of your lead as you mold, shape, and transform me exactly as you want. Help me not to argue with you, but to deny what I want apart from you as I surrender and abandon myself to your will. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you see yourself as a piece of clay in the hands of God as the potter? Why or why not? Transformation with growing maturity as a Christian is what discipleship is all about. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? Do you ever find yourself arguing with God about what you sense He wants to do in and through you? If so, do you think that is what God wants—or is it something He would like to see changed? If such change is to occur how would it happen? Can you do that on your own?
Waiting for the Train 