THE POTTER’S HOUSE
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 18-19
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
In Pella, Greece, at the Archaeological Museum, pottery vessels from ancient times are on display. In today’s reading, Israel is likened to “clay…in the potter’s hand.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 18:2 &11b
Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words…Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”
Jeremiah heard God’s Words and proclaimed them to the people of his time and ours too! God’s invitation, which we can accept or reject, is conditional. If we RETURN, REPENT, and decide to DO WHAT IS RIGHT, the vessel of our lives and our land will be made by the Divine Potter into a new creation of God, “As it seemed good for the Potter to make!!!” (18:4b). See Romans 9:20-23 as a New Testament example of the Divine Potter and we who are to be the clay which is molded by His hands.
What horror and evil the people brought upon themselves. During the siege by the Babylonians, people turned into cannibals. The same happened, according to the historian who wrote on the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, following the rejection of the Messiah Jesus by the political and religious leadership. There were many exceptions to this extreme evil. In Jeremiah’s day, there were young men like Daniel and the three Hebrew children who lived righteous lives (Daniel 3:10-30). The same courage was shown by many during and following the Roman destruction. As was the case with the Babylonian destruction prophesied by Jeremiah, so the Romans, according to Josephus’ “Jewish Wars,” took 700 prisoners back to Rome, paraded them in chains behind Titus’ chariot through the streets, and then sold them as slaves to Roman households. Some were believers in Jesus. Some were even part of the Royal household of the Caesar (Philippians 4:20-23). God continues to mold human clay into vessels which He can fill and employ in His good purpose.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
O, Potter of my life, I yield myself in wholehearted willing surrender to Your hands. I pray that I will be “as the clay is in the Potter’s hand!” I’m aware that the fire is necessary to complete my vessel in order that I may be useful to carry the Water of Life to others. May I be poured out, filled again and again, and poured out often for Your purposes, Lord God! In the Name of the One whose very life was poured out for the entire world, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was 1992, in Seville, Spain, at the great World Expo attended by at least 40 million people from all over the world where Crossroads built “La Pabillion de la Promessa” (The Pavilion of Promise). During the months of the Expo, over 53,000 people made first-time decisions to receive Jesus, not as a religion, but as personal Saviour and Lord! The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seville wept as he said, “My people, my people need this message!” However, my memory backs up 500 years to the Spanish Inquisition, the persecution and martyrdom of many, not by the common people, but by religious and political leaders, as it was at the time of Christ. Two Seville priests had made their way to England where they translated the Bible into Spanish for the first time. In Seville, each morning as I walked from our apartment to the Expo grounds, I would walk through the square where at least 1,500 were burnt at the stake for their contention that the only Words of salvation were in the Bible, which they had recently acquired from those two priests. Crossroads had run out of money to pay our bills and human reason said, “Pack it in, stop construction, and head home.” However, I believe I heard that still small Voice saying to me, “Look down at the ancient dust packed beneath and around the cobblestones under your feet. There are minute particles of the ashes left from the bodies of those who simply wanted to cherish the Scriptures and its message of eternal life, and their blood cries out to Me from the ashes of their sacrifice!” These priests and people believed that salvation was theirs, not by a religious ceremony, but by faith through grace according to the Scriptures (Ephesians 2:1-9). I think it was 1959 when Pope John XXIII proclaimed that all Roman Catholics were to get a Bible of their own and read it!!!
Yours for being molded in the hands of the Divine Potter according to the Scriptures,
David
A close-up view of the ancient pottery on display at the Archaeological Museum. They come in all sizes and shapes, just like us, and there is a special purpose for each vessel!
Praying David’s prayer this morning and soaking in the glory of His Presence. God’s molding unfolds throughout history, with reason for deeply embedded biblical roots, whereby humans may hold onto the vine of Christ and find their way out of a mired and tainted world. Holding fellow saints in prayer today with loving peace and admiration in heart and soul, and thanking you always for your prayers.
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
Zach Williams – Rescue Story Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybCOOCaHp5c
January 31 Echoes of Eternity, Helms
Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept Thy word.
Psalm 119:67
“My child, do not despise My chastenings. They are sent for your ultimate good, painful and difficult as they are for you. I have not forgotten to be gracious, and I am not absent from any trial you are being asked to endure. As Abraham found, My eye is upon you, and when the work is done, My answer is there, waiting to be revealed.
“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him. This holy fear is a protection against that part of your nature that would carry you into complete darkness. Cherish it, and tremble before My Word. Cherish it, and let it be a protection to you, like a wall around a sheltered garden. You will come to know and trust Me more and more if you will not despise My chastenings.”
The Master’s hand – I felt His Touch.
Amid the sorrow and despair.
Beyond the reach of human hands,
He alone was there.
No other power could ever draw
The broken pieces of a life,
Within the circle of His love —
Which conquered even death.
Thank You Lord. 1974
How divine!! Thank you for sharing your lovely prose with us, Doreen! Amen!!
Dear Lord God, You alone are good. You know how things and people should work, because You made all. Yet we are broken. We don’t know how to properly function. Please have mercy on us, Lord. Forgive us for our waywardness. We need Your help, Your very Spirit, to make us into people who are fit to be called by Your name. In Jesus’s name, amen
Amen!
Amen and amen, Rob!
Thank you Beverlee, Doreen and Rob and of course for David’s insight. I feel blessed to be part of this blog.
I hope everyone who reads this has a good safe and Blessed day. Eleanor M.
God bless you, Eleanor!
God is a God of loving kindness and also of judgement. Is the sin of this generation any less than back in Jeremiah’s day I wonder in God’s eyes. Jeremiah spelled out the sins of his day as we can today. In these still days of grace, God have mercy on all your creation. Prayed David’s prayer today as well. Say amen to all your posts today and God bless you.
You’re right, Ger, He is indeed a God of loving kindness and also of judgment. He is perfect in all of His ways. And I believe we in this generation are no better than they were in Jeremiah’s day. I believe we must pray for His mercy and for eyes and hearts to be opened to the truth of our own great sinfulness and need while there is still time. This is my heart’s cry especially for Canada.
Amen Ger and Deanna!
Jeremiah was a very special messenger for sure and concerned with others salvation.
“Paul did not say that he separated himself, but “when it pleased God, who separated me…” (Galatians 1:15). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3).” Dr. Jim Denison
A Place in the Choir: https://youtu.be/-iP27eatYxE
God please bless all followers of your word.
Lynda, I LOVED that song/band!!
Thank you Lynda D for that song; that is one song among a few other our Senor’s choir is preparing for our spring performances in various hospitals, and senior homes.
so good to read all comments and prayers by each you; and in particular David’s prayer and personal words.
enjoy your bloggers
Thank you–sent this video to my friend down in California and he sent the same song back to me but with a bit of a twist:-).
A Place in the Choir:
https://youtu.be/sTKJUxl8TL4
Thank you Lynda D; I really enjoyed it; I wanted to forward it to my choir director, but do not know how to do that
Glad u enjoyed that cute video Irene and hoping you are well and enjoying our mild winter, lately. Probably the easiest way to send the video to your choir director is from the YouTube website. Anybody can get u into that website and once there it has a ‘search box’ up top where you can type in anything u r looking 4. Just type in ‘A Place in the Choir” and quite a few options for that song will appear on the screen. Maybe just tell your director and I’m sure he/she will know which one to pick–it’s the one with the cute little characters:-).
God bless your day and we r getting rain out here today. Very unusual for this time of year. I love the first of Feb. as I can now say ‘next mo. is Spring and the geese will be back.’ Praise the Lord!