Scripture Reading(s)
Jeremiah 18:1-11
18:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
18:2 “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.”
18:3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel.
18:4 The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.
18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
18:6 Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
18:7 At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,
18:8 but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it.
18:9 And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,
18:10 but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it.
18:11 Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
Reflections
We are God’s chosen vessels. He created us, molded us and has chosen us to be His children out of an everlasting love for us. He can choose to shape us and break us in ways He deems fit because He knows what is best for our lives. Here the nation of Israel is being shown that God can either break them or continue to turn them into vessels that will be strong and powerful for His word.
God warns them against turning to evil because they have seen that those who go against God’s plans are destroyed in the process. God knows their hearts that are prone to wander from Him. However, He reminds them that if they follow after Him, He will continue to build a strong and mighty nation. God is never through working on our hearts. He is daily refining us and molding us to be more like Him each day.
Every morning that we wake up, we have a choice to make. We can either choose to follow after Christ or give into our temptations to do evil. God wants to better shape us into His image and the more we choose to expose ourselves to His word and in daily communication with Him, the more we become like Him.
As Christians we are to mirror Him and His characteristics. We are to portray obedience in showing love, joy, peace, patience and kindness. We are to be marked by a heart that chooses to do good instead of evil. When Christ is reigning in our hearts, we are better being exposed to growing closer to Him each day. Let us allow for our potter to mold us into Christ-likeness and stand firm against doing what is evil.
There have been must heated discussion throughout time about how to understand man’s free will in contrast to God’s sovereignty. I do not intend to drudge up the topic today but I do want to point out that God allows Israel to determine their own fate. Much like Israel at mount Sinai, God is giving Israel a choice of blessing and curses.
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth (Deuteronomy 28:1)
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee (Deuteronomy 28:15)
Fast forward 700 years and Israel is again facing the same decision.
if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. (Jeremiah 18:7-9)
Like Israel we are given the choice to be obedient or disobedient. God will not force you to do one thing or another. The creator of the universe has given us all the free will to decide for ourselves which way we will choose. May we always choose to follow the Lord and reap the blessings that come along with obedience to God. Let us not have to face the destruction that comes with disobedience. Every day that you choose to follow the Lord, you are choosing an abundant life.
[Featured image from morrisbrownamechurch.org]