The Potter and the Clay

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:8; Philippians 1:6, 9-11; 2:12

“How’s the present for Gran’s birthday coming along?” Mom asked when she saw Samantha carefully working on a lump of clay.

Samantha held up what had begun as a brown glob and was now turning into a vase. “I’ll keep working on it until I have it just right.” She did, and when the vase was finally just the way she liked it, she put it on a shelf to dry.

That afternoon, Samantha’s friend Anna came over to play. They laughed and exclaimed over the outfits they created as they played dress-up. But then Samantha lost her temper. “Hey! Leave my stuff alone!” she shouted when Anna tried walking in the high-heeled shoes Samantha had been using. Anna immediately kicked off the shoes, grabbed her coat, and went home.

With a sigh, Samantha went to the kitchen. “Mom, I did it again. I got mad at Anna and yelled at her.” She sat down at the table and rubbed a hand across her eyes. “I always end up doing something like that. I’ll never be the kind of person God wants me to be. I’m hopeless.”

Mom pointed to the shelf holding the vase Samantha had made. “That vase started out as a lump of clay, but now it’s looking really good. It took a potter—you—to mold it into something lovely. And you worked at it until you had it just right, didn’t you?” Samantha nodded. “Well, when you trusted in Jesus, you agreed to let Him mold your life,” Mom continued. “It takes time and patience, but He can smooth out the lumps that keep you from being the kind of person He wants you to be.”

“By lumps, do you mean stuff like my bad temper?” Samantha asked.

“Exactly,” said Mom. “Jesus keeps working to make you more and more like Him, patiently teaching you to turn from sin and show others His love. It’s a lifelong process, but one day, when He returns and gets rid of sin forever, your salvation will be complete and you won’t ever sin again. Until then, trust Him to work in your life and fill your heart with His love. He doesn’t give up, and neither should you!”

-Karen E. Cogan

How About You?

Are you discouraged because you often do or say wrong things? Do you feel like you’re hopeless, even though you’re sorry for doing wrong? God doesn’t give up on you, and you shouldn’t either. Follow His leading in your life as He molds you to make you more like Jesus. He started working on you the day you trusted in Him, and He won’t stop until His work is complete.

Today’s Key Verse:
Philippians 1:6 He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

God is still working on you