Today's Passage:  Jeremiah 18-19

Usually when we see the image of the potter and clay in scripture, we view it is a good thing.  We know that God is the potter, and that He has the ability to mold us into something beautiful and useful for the kingdom.  But in this passage, the potter looks at what he has made and is disappointed.  It hasn't turned out the way he wants it to, so he breaks it down and starts over.  Later in the passage, Jeremiah is told to take a pot and break it, representing the broken relationship Israel has with the Father.  Neither of these images is too soothing, is it?

Just as we know God can shape us into something beautiful, we know that we have to obey Him to be shaped.  If we try to make ourselves into something else...something of our own design...then the potter can't use that.  It needs to be His way, His plan and His shape for us to be truly His. 

The good news is that if we allow ourselves to be shaped by the Potter, then good things will happen!  The bad news is if we are stubborn, a "re-shaping" may be necessary.  That's never pleasant for the clay, as it has to be broken and molded before it can be used again. 

Ask God today to help you be moldable and useful for His hands!