Clay In The Potters Hands
"Yet, oh Lord, you are the Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we all are the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8
Through the years, I have had the opportunity to see many men go through the process of being broken before God. In each case, the outstanding characteristic present in each man was a humbling of self. In most of these situations, it was a painful process but one that eventually brought an abundance of joy and contentment. Anything broken, whether it be the computer, a leg, or the spirit of a man, is not a pleasant thing. In order for it to be of any further use, steps have to be taken to put it back together in full working condition. The broken part hurts, but the putting back together is what brings the joy.
Prior to being broken, our lives run on achieving significance, success, and self. Like food and water, these desires need to be met on a daily basis. Self is the main focus and purpose in all we do. In the first eighteen verses of chapter six, Jesus list a host of things that we do, all of which are good, but we do them to be recognized by others. We do it for significance, success, and self. We do it for the glory of man, all the while thinking we are doing it for God. We are in control, we do it.
To become broken, there has to be a change in us. Anything broken has to depend on someone else to put it back together. For us, that someone is God. We allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our life within our heart and we are no longer in control. Broken people are totally dependent on God. We seek God on a daily basis, His principles, His ways, His presence, and His leadership. It is His glory. We give it up and let God do it through us. We begin to live in the Spirit, and as we do, the fruit of the Spirit just naturally flows out of us. That is where the joy and contentment come. It just naturally happens because everything is left up to God. He is in control and it is His plan we are pursuing. We are but clay in the potters hands.
As I walked through this part of the journey, I found that the biggest stumbling block I had to break was the battle between being religious and spiritual. The love of money, significance, success, and self came out of a theology of being religious. I knew that Jesus had scorned the Pharisees for their religious attitude in doing things out of pride. They were also men who sought their own way and endeavored to have control of their religion and their own personal life. Being religious is to use God to get things done and to focus on the external of how we appear to others. This was at the root of my religion. My self righteousness was based on my performance, being good and moral, and what others thought of me. It was practicing the acts of religion without the love of God occupying first place in my heart.
In allowing God to mold and make me into a new person, I realized that my relationship with God must come from a spiritual walk with Him. I must be dependent on Him and not myself. God must be in control and He will reward me in the manner He wants and when he wants. My spirit had to be broken. I could not in my own human effort love God first, it had to come from His spirit inside of me. I could not stop seeking significance and loving success, self and money on my own. It had to be a God thing. I had to be broken so God could mold this broken piece of clay into His shape and to be used for His purpose and His glory. It was a painful experience in some ways, but oh the joy and contentment when I finally let go.
