~ Under Construction ~

[Lani]

Jeremiah 18:1-6
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.



“Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.” Romans 5:3-5 (NRSV)




I stood at the construction site of our church's mission house as the masons worked. The house began to take shape as they skillfully arranged the blocks. From time to time, the masons intentionally chiseled away a chunk of the well-molded, rectangular cement blocks before they laid them.

Initially, I thought they were wasting precious resources. I wondered, if they knew that they are going to chisel away some of the molded blocks, why didn't they make them smaller from the beginning? But as I watched, I realized that they were chiseling the blocks to give the building's facade more character.

This observation game me a better understanding of the story of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18: 1-6. Sometimes the circumstances and challenges we face in life almost destroy us. But they can, in fact, produce in us shape and character that we will need to face life. However my experiences chisel me, I want to learn to accept God's work of molding me.


Prayer: Lord, when life's circumstances challenge us, teach us to accept your direction. Help us to remember that all things can be used for good. Amen.


Prayer Focus of Day:Construction Workers


Thought for the Day: God is at work in us to give us life.


Story shared by: L. Sackitey (Ghana)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 8/5/11