There is Still Hope for Me

Jeremiah 18:1-12
 
One day last week I found myself crying out to God, “Can I ever really be different?! I have been so long this way; not sure that I can really change.” Not even three days later I read the above passage in my devotions. I follow a reading plan from a one-year Bible called Seasons of Reflections.

In this passage, God sends Jeremiah to the Potter for an object lesson. The Potter is working the clay into a pot but finds that there is a flaw in the clay that will not let him continue that particular piece. He does not throw the clay away. He does not try to keep making the same piece. He instead works around the flaw to make another piece because HE is skilled and flaws don’t scare Him. The More Skilled the Potter, the more skilled He is at taking flawed clay and making useful Pieces for His glory.

We cannot (honestly) ever say any of the following:

• I am beyond any hope of change
• I have been too long this way – it’s hopeless
• I was born this way
• I am too old to change
• I can’t help myself
• This is just who I am

Even Time is not a “mar” that the Eternal God cannot overcome. He is able to skillfully shape something just as useful right around the Flaw. His fingers do not even leave the shaping but just turn the clay in the new direction.

Sadly Israel had an answer that put them beyond the intervention of the Potter. Jeremiah 18:12 - “It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.” They were saying: It’s too late for us; it is has been too long and we are TOO STUBBORN.”
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ENOUGH SAID.