What is clay?
Well, having tried my hand at pottery for a short time, clay is messy. It gets over everything and is complicated to mold. It’s temperamental in that, too much water, and you have dirty soup that won’t conform to its shape. And with too little water, it’s too stubborn and firm to bend into its shape.
I was too impatient to find the right combination and gave up too soon, deciding to stick with the much easier process of painting an already crafted piece. But…in the hands of an experienced potter, I saw beautiful crafts taking shape–from ornate pottery, to delicate ornaments, to beautiful dishes…vessels to be used for a purpose.
How does this relate to us as people? I’d like to sum it up in the following four points.
1. We are the clay.
Stubborn…difficult…messy.
And without an experienced craftsman, we are destined to be shapeless lumps with no purpose.
God is the Potter. With the experience of eternity, He takes His hands and molds us into vessels. Beautiful and perfectly crafted. Isaiah 64:8 (KJV) states –
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay,
and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
God makes no mistakes. He is immutable. He has created us according to His image and He has a purpose for each and every one of us.
Each person on this earth is made differently. Some short, some tall, some thin, others well rounded, some with disabilities and others with health complications. But we all have something in common.
2. We are wonderfully made.
The Bible says in Psalm 139:14 (KJV) –
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Many people I have known battle many insecurities. These range anything from their body shape, to their singing voice, to their talents, to what they do for work.
But if God has made us all wonderfully, what do we have to be ashamed of? Sure, our actions are our own. But who we are, is God’s creation. He is the Potter, we are the clay.
Something else we have in common?
3. We have a purpose.
Maybe, the reason we aren’t happy with ourselves is because we are trying to be something we are not. Maybe, some of us are plates, meant to carry the truth to people as a healthy meal. Maybe others are goblets meant to bring the sweet refreshing encouragement to those who are struggling. Maybe some are bowls meant to help carry someone else’s load.
Each vessel has its own purpose. A bowl cannot be a cup, a vase cannot be a plate, nor can we be something we are not.
The Potter who made us is the Master who chooses our calling.
4. We have a choice.
Have you ever thought about that?
Our actions are truly our choice. Our thoughts are our own. Our actions are done with our own hands. Now, we can let others influence our thoughts and our actions. But what we think and do is ultimately our decision.
The Bible states in 2 Timothy 2:20 (KJV) –
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”
We are meant to be vessels of honor. Honor is defined as “adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.” Dishonor has the idea of going against what we know is right.
So, the choice is ours. We can either believe that we are the clay, beautifully molded in God’s hand for a greater purpose. Or, we can believe all the lies our minds tell us about ourselves and go against everything we know to be true and right.
Philippians 4:8(KJV) states –
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
…if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Let us not think of ourselves in a way that discredits our Maker.
God is our Potter.
We are the clay.
And God does not make any mistakes.
Meet the Writer
Sherrice Myers is a math teacher in a christian school. She does writing part time but would love for it to become more than just a hobby. She loves all things coffee and enjoys spending her free time curled up with a fuzzy blanket, a warm drink, and her current work in progress. You can also find Sherrice on Instagram or, visit her at her blog!
Vessels of Honor 