The book of Jeremiah 18: 1-4 the potter has control over the vessel that he was making out of clay. The vessel of clay is Israel and the church today is us. The potter is God. When the vessel has been shaped and molded it must then be placed in the oven with heat.
When the clay vessel has gone through the oven and the fire it is ready for use. The potter now put the vessel to the purpose it was designed. The vessel is not placed on the shelf to be admired.
It is placed on the table to be used. Romans 12:1-2, shows us how God has asked each of his vessels to be used sacrificially. The vessel will be filled and emptied many times in its life. Never was it intended to become a showpiece.
The vessel can be admired for its appearance, but until it meets the practical needs for which it was created, it has failed. Many of us today, say we are Christians but we have failed because we have not accomplished the purpose the Creator had in mind.
God did not create you to be sitting on the shelf collecting dust. Sitting on the shelf is pretty but useless. He created you the vessel for a purpose. That purpose was to serve.
3 stage process must not be forgotten.
- Shaped Vessel
- Treated Vessel (by Heat)
- Serving Vessel
Let me ask you some questions related to your life?
- Are you Serving?
- Whom do you Serve?
- How do you Serve?
- Where do you Serve?
Just think, if God created you for His service, but you are busy shining for your self, then you are useless.
God expects to keep filling you with His Spirit for His use, are you letting Him pour you out for His purposes?
God wants us to be the kind of vessel that is available for Him. He desires us to be used like dishes, cups, plates, glasses, and pots. Jesus wants to place inside of us, love when it is needed. He desires in our cups patience when it is time.
Forgiveness is what He wants to be in the middle of our plates. He wants gentleness in our bowl and in our water glass over flowing with joy. All these items plus more God expect to see on the table of our life.
God desires healthy spiritual food from our table, are you giving it to Him? Wrong food is like the little boy eating at school. The power failed at the elementary school so the cook couldn’t serve a hot meal in the cafeteria.
So he whipped up at the last minute huge stacks of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As the little boy filled his plate, he said, “It’s about time, finally a home-cooked meal.”
Well if you have not trusted Christ as your Savior, then your life is totally useless. God wants you to be a living sacrifice for Him. Have you dealt with your sin? Have you trusted Christ’s atoning work on the cross?
Don’t forget that God is the Potter and we are the clay vessels. Vessels created for his purpose. Are you a “Vessel in Use”?