The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels. When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.                                  Jeremiah 18:1-4 (WEB)
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?â€
Jesus answered, “Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.†When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud,..                                         John 9:1-6 (WEB)
As I have been meditating on God’s words this week about prayer – it is no coincidence as I am walking through a difficult season in my personal life. And so God, who is faithful, and loves me so much, brings me to these verses today. He asks me a question: “Will you be the dirt that I use, Jody?†Oh my goodness! And here I was expecting Jesus to ask me to be His well-known, white-robed disciple!
God speaks to His prophet, Jeremiah, in this passage, several years after Jeremiah began speaking God’s words. Jeremiah had already been through “some stuffâ€. To me, God is reminding Jeremiah (and me) that He is the potter who takes the wet, common clay and molds and presses the clay into something useful and beautiful. The clay becomes useful and beautiful because of the hands of the One who does not give up on clay that may be less than perfect and less than malleable in and of itself.
Jesus comes to fulfill what was begun in the Old Testament. Jesus takes dirt; adds His own spit (something of Himself) and dirt goes from just being dirt – to being an instrument of healing. WOW! Dirt is not just something to be walked on or made into bricks. It is a wondrous tool in the Hand of God!
Am I willing to be just dirt? Am I willing to be nothing of consequence by the world’s standards? Am I willing to be – in God’s hands? Am I willing to be – whatever, whenever, wherever, and to whomever God decides me to be? I have the choice and it involves more than saying, “Here I am, Lord!†It is also a choice of where my eyes are turned. It is a choice of how my heart is open for Jesus’ direction or my desires.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay; Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me. — Adelaide Pollard, 1907
