Looking back to when I would play with clay as a child, it seems I always began the same way. The first thing I would do was begin rolling some clay on the table with my hand until it began looking like a worm or a snake. Not impressive in and of itself, but I was not done. I would then take that long tubular piece of workmanship and begin wrapping it around to make the layers of a basket. Finally, I would make another clay worm to become the basket’s handle. Though my work was far from fancy, I was glad my creation was at least recognizable as to what it was supposed to be.
As we think about life in our own hands, what can we make of it alone? As we read in Isaiah. . .
“(6) We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 ESV)
To even depend upon our best is not good enough. We must continue to surrender to the hands of our Maker, allowing Him to work in and through us what He desires (Ephesians 2:10); to make us as He wants us to be recognizable, the work of His hands.
Isaiah went on to acknowledge. . .
“(8) But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 ESV)
Despite the sinfulness of the nation at the time of Isaiah, he still saw God’s ability to do His transformative work as their hope. It is the same for us.
Are we trying to do the molding ourselves? Are we allowing the world to mold us as it desires? (note Romans 12:2) Or are we continuing to surrender to the transformative work God is able to continue in and through us? To the world and even to ourselves we might not appear like much, but God is able to make us useful for His Divine purposes as we remain surrendered to Him. May we praise the Potter as moldable clay in His masterful hands!
Have a great day BEING MASTERFULLY MOLDED IN OUR MAKER’S HANDS!
Carl
