The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the shop where the clay pots and jars are made. I will speak to you while you are there.” So I did as He told me and found the potter working at His wheel. But the jar He was making did not turn out as He had hoped, so the potter squashed the jar into a lump of clay and started
again.
Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand…”
Jeremiah 18:1-4
I think I’ve run out of “warm-fuzzies” – at least for the moment. So here it goes.
I got this passage the other week as I was asking the Lord for a word. Initially I took as an application I could use as an encouragement for others – a useful tool to remind people that God molds us for His glory and purpose. It’s the clay that was flawed not the potter’s skill. Guess who got stuck in the mud and squashed –
Easter Sunday turned out to be an experience. Last year the Racers hit up a mega-church in Georgia for Easter. There was a display of the Last Supper with real actors, a doped up lion that was rolled onto stage, and angel kids who flew over the audience. This year was less extravagant though we still had a lion. Together again we were at a camp site in Swaziland preparing for an Easter service, church dedication, and braai. (Braai could be African for ‘lots of food.’) Things were set up days and weeks in advanced. And then the rain came.
The few hours of morning rain were soaked into the parched dirt. We began the morning setting out to finish things before the service at 10. The mud caked onto our shoes more with every step. With our feet weighing us down stuff still had to be done throughout the day: saving the 500 person tent that fell down, sweeping out a flooded classroom, decorating, pushing cars out of the soggy ground, moving chairs for lunch, cleaning up, tearing down…
That wasn’t enough. The next day we got yelled at. In love and grace we – the fabulous, God-honoring, faith-filled, sacrificing, recklessly devoted and young missionaries – were rebuked. (I hope you could taste the hint of sarcasm.) Our attitudes needed to be in the mud and with the people as well. We ended up lazily meeting the bare essential of needs that day.
We know what real love is because Christ gave us His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help – how can God’s love be in that person?
1 John 3:16,17
Maybe some of us worked hard and maybe some of us didn’t. We’re here now with this difference between doing and serving with the motive of love. You’ve heard of the five love languages? Most of the time I can naturally do the ‘acts of service’ but only because it’s a need I see that has to be met. It’s something I can do. But anyone can do nice things.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow after Me…
Matthew 16:24-28
We were there not for ourselves but for every other person God brought through the mud that day. To love the go-gos (grandmothers) and the kids and the pastors. To share in the moment of fellowship and service for the King. (As in Christ, not the Swazi one) We are chosen to be active members of His family. Our responsibility then is to be serious about bringing His kingdom to earth – through our actions and words as Jesus Himself set as an example.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
We should have stepped it up but the little laziness got us side-tracked and selfish on Sunday. Monday reminded me that nothing is our own. Did we really give up all our rights a while back or are we pretending that someone still owes us something.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
Matthew 10:8
The lack of “warm-fuzzies” lately is because the realness of Christ is making its place more and more in my life. He’s real…not merely an emotional trip. I need to serve my God – not just when I feel like it, not when I am ready, not because someone else tells me what to do. And I need to live loved also. I can’t trust the happy feeling of simple pleasures in this relationship. It’s a truth I need to claim and believe with everything. Mood swings, circumstances, human influences, and events will not change His love for me. I should step out in response to that love. Can’t say I do that all the time. I’m getting squished into the pot He has designed and planned for His purpose, not mine.
All the Scripture I’ve dropped throughout this blog are truths He’s been showing me the past few days. In a way He’s removing me from emotional experiences – a nice trip – so I can see what it’s really about. I get to be yelled at with reality and led by the Truth.
For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from Him. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.
Hebrews 4:12,13
Real love comes with discipline and truth, right? So I am doing wonderful! I’m in the hands of my Potter. It’s kinda dirty – but it’s the process of becoming more amazing everyday. Wanna join me in the mud?
