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This week we have the parable of the potter. Jeremiah was at a very low point in his ministry. The children, the nation of Judah had turned their backs on God. They were following false prophets and were worshipping idols instead of God.? {{more: continue …}}?Jeremiah was faced with the task of preaching repentance to a rebellious and backslidden nation. Now it was seemed necessary for God to teach them a lesson, so He sent them down to the potter’s house. There are some important lessons in this parable. Each object in the parables has a significant meaning.?the potter …??
God is the Potter. He is our Savior, our guide, our strength. Our lives are not in the hands of some invisible ‘force’. Our lives are in the hands of Almighty God! God is not just our Creator, He is our Father and He has a personal concern for the lives of His children.
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“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
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God has a plan for our lives. Just as the potter has a plan for a lump of clay. He sees the finished product in his mind. He sees us growing and getting better and better. As we view our lives they may seem of little consequence, but God knows the end from the beginning.
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That is why Paul says what he does in Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
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God has all the power. God has a plan for us, but he also has the power to accomplish that plan in our lives. He is sovereign over all. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? (Romans 9:21)
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God has patience with us. The potter patiently works the clay, tenderly molding it into shape. In the same manner, God patiently directs in our lives, seeking to fulfill His will. It is a long process to make a worth-while product, and God is willing to wait. Consider these Joseph, Abraham, Mary Magdalene, David, Paul, Esther, the Disciples, Ruth.
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the clay …?
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We are the clay. “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:`14).??
Clay is dust mixed with water and is of no great value in itself. The greatest quality of clay is that it yields. As it yields in the hands of the potter it can become something of great value. If we are disobedient, this hinders God’s work in our lives. God’s plan can be spoiled by disobedience. This is also true for a family, a nation and a church.?the potter’s wheel …??
Life is like the potter’s wheel. The potter’s wheel spins swiftly. The speed of the wheel is controlled by the potter Himself. There are three factors in shaping the clay, speed of the wheel, the pressure applied by the hands of the potter and the yielding of the clay. Our lives are not controlled by chance or luck, but by God. He arranges the circumstances of life that molds us.
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We often wonder about the circumstances of our lives or wonder if God has been unfair to us, but one day we will realize that Romans 8:28 is true; “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…”
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the center …?
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The most important thing about a wheel is its center If the wheel is “on center” everything will be balanced. Longevity is not our primary concern. Our primary concern should be whether or not our lives are “on center”. The center in the life of a child of God is Jesus Christ. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”(Matthew 6:33)
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doing it over again …?
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Jeremiah saw that the vessel made of clay was marred. The nation of Judah was an unyielding and rebellious vessel. The potter did not cast away the vessel – he made it over again. God can take an unyielding and rebellious life and make it into something worthwhile and useful. Perhaps you have a stubborn and unyielding spirit toward God, why not let Him have His way today??
See you on Sunday!?“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”?Peace,
Pastor Nelda?****************Kennedale
First United Methodist Church is located at 229 W 4th St, Kennedale, TX 76060
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