THE MAKING. In Genesis 2:5, God, the Master Potter, is at work. He gathers the dust of the ground, wet by underground streams, and forms His man, complete with an intricate respiratory system with nostrils, trachea, and lungs – and blows into Him the breath of life.
THE BREAKING. Forward three thousand plus years from the time of creation to the era of Jeremiah the prophet. God is still in the artisanal pottery business. Jeremiah is rejected and disappointed in his countrymen, the Jewish people, because of their disobedience toward God. The Almighty shows him there is hope for change when he invites him to come down to the potter’s house in Jeremiah 18. He watches the potter shaping a vessel. Seeing obvious flaws, the potter stops, destroys the project, re-uses the material, and begins anew, making a vessel fit for use.
THE BAKING. This is the firing process where the approved clay shape is strengthened, dried, and hardened. Archeologists have long used pottery shards to learn about past civilizations and their cultural life based on this long-lasting material. When we endure the fiery trials of this life, we can be made stronger, and our stories can live beyond our natural lives, telling others of God’s love.
THE WAKING. After a pottery vessel is baked to a bisque finish, it is glazed for decoration, sealing, and daily use. As God’s people, we can “wake up” to who we are as He made us – beautiful for service with unique qualities. God is intimately interested and involved with our lives. There are no “Big Bang” type random occurrences with God. Our experiences shape, refine, strengthen, and beautify us to draw us and others to Him. In Him, we awaken to His purpose for our lives.
~ Nan Robertson
Christ Fellowship