Greetings!
Thank you for joining us in prayer and reflection during this season of Lent. We will travel through daily scripture, reflection and prayer. Additional people have been joining us each day. Please feel free to forward these reflections to others. We invite you to explore the other resources for the season found at the bottom of the page as we continue the journey together. Christian Formation Commission |
Scripture
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. "Come, go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working on his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he worked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.
Then the word of the Lord came to me. Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I might declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up or break down and destroy it, but if that nation concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I will declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: I am a potter shaping an evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
Jeremiah 18:1-11
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A potter is able to take a lump of clay and mold it into any shape he likes and if it doesn't turn out to his satisfaction, he can break it up into another ball and start over. God is saying to Jeremiah that he can do the same thing. We started out as lumps of clay and if God is displeased with us, he has the ability to change his mind and make a new "creation". When the earth was "without form and void", God created man in his own image and he looked at his creation and said it was good. However, man disobeyed God and God was righteously indignant. God is saying to us now, "turn away from your evil ways: do not make me bring down my wrath upon you". Listen to his voice and do what is good, turning away from evil, and no disasters will befall you.
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Prayer
Dear Lord
O God,
who out of nothing
brought everything that is,
out of what I am
bring more of what I dream
but haven't dared;
direct my power and passion
to creating life
where there is death,
putting flesh of action
on bare-boned intentions.,
to lighting fires
against the midnight of indifference,
to throwing bridges of care
across canyons of loneliness;
so I can look on creation
together with you,
and, behold,
call it very good;
thru Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen
Guerrilla's of Grace, Ted Loder, p. 115
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