City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, ² “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” ³ So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. ⁴ But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

⁵ Then the Lord gave me this message: ⁶ “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 18:1-5 (NLT)

He intends, in His own good time, to set that part of her right. But that is not, for God, the critical part of the business. It presents no difficulties. It is not what He is anxious about. What He is watching and waiting and working for is something that is not easy even for God, because, from the nature of the case, even He cannot produce it by a mere act of power. He is waiting and watching for it both in Miss Bates and in Dick Firkin. It is something they can freely give Him or freely refuse to Him. Will they, or will they not, turn to Him and thus fulfil the only purpose for which they were created? Their free will is trembling inside them like the needle of a compass. But this is a needle that can choose. It can point to its true North; but it need not. Will the needle swing round, and settle, and point to God?

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity Book 4, Ch 10

Aisha’s Analysis

What makes a Christ-follower different from everyone else is just that: his/her willingness to follow Christ. What’s of primary importance is not that our behavior line up uniformly according to the precepts of the Bible, for we are all at varying stages in our sanctification. What is of primary importance, however, is that every Christian be willing to yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit, and follow Him, even if He takes us where we had not planned to go. 

Jeremiah 18:4 states “But the jar he [the potter] was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over” (NLT). Have you ever been there? Being crushed in the hands of the Potter is both terrifying and liberating at the same time. There is nothing quite so beautiful as a surrendered soul to a loving Father. 

While our outward behavior is important to God and is a key indicator to the rest of the world of our inward transformation, what’s even more important is our ability to allow God to shape our lives according to His plan and purpose. If your life currently doesn’t look like what you envisioned, that’s okay. We are a work in progress in the Hands of the Potter. That’s His business. However, what you can do, and only you can do this, is trust and obey God. Instead of stubbornly refusing His direction and choosing to go your own way, be flexible and willing to follow God’s way. 

When you find yourself being crushed by God, instead of being deformed by the process, allow God to work with you and transform you into who He’s always designed you to be.  

Application

One of my favorite definitions of grace comes from Dallas Willard: “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action. Grace, you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.”

Grace not only allows for the forgiveness of sins, but also empowers us to live for God. What is something you find particularly difficult in your life right now? Is it possible that you’re trying to handle it in your own strength rather than surrendered to God/powered by His Grace? 

Set aside about 15-30 minutes of undisturbed time. If this is not possible for you, this can be done in the car, in the shower, on a walk, or whenever you have a few minutes alone and uninterrupted (smart phones off, please). Now, during this quiet time, envision yourself taking that really difficult thing in life and laying it at the Father’s feet. Surrender it completely to Him. Ask for His Grace. Replenish yourself in His Presence. Worship Him. Listen for His direction. Follow Him. 

Prayer

Father God, I thank You for transforming me daily by Your Grace. I thank You for this truth: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).