Returning to God: The Potter and the Clay
Summary
In our journey through the book of Jeremiah, we have been called to reflect on the profound object lessons that God has provided for us. These lessons are not mere historical artifacts; they are living messages that beckon us to return to God, to embrace Him as the Lord of our lives. Today, we delve into the powerful imagery of the potter and the clay, as depicted in Jeremiah 18 and 19, which speaks to the intricate process of our formation by God's hands and the potential for destruction when we turn away from His design.
We are reminded that every choice we make either reinforces God's work in our lives or strengthens the elements that oppose Him. John Stott's words resonate deeply, warning us that indulging in the flesh sows seeds that will not yield a harvest of holiness. Our lives are a constant battle between sowing to the flesh and sowing to the spirit, and it is in this struggle that we find the urgency to return to God.
The imagery of the potter's work is a testament to the fact that we are created in the image of God, designed to be His masterpiece, His work of art. This truth bestows upon us an inherent dignity and responsibility to enhance and flourish in this world. However, when we pervert this image through our actions, God's anger is aroused. This anger is not capricious or unwarranted; it is the justifiable response of a loving Creator whose purpose for us has been twisted and misused.
God's wrath, as revealed in Scripture, is a form of justifiable love. It is the natural consequence of our choices when we forsake His ways. The New Testament echoes this truth, showing us that God's nature is consistent throughout the Bible. His wrath is not merely a relic of the Old Testament but a present reality that calls us to repentance and transformation.
The time between our actions and their consequences is a gift from God, a period of grace in which we are invited to return to Him. This is not a passive waiting on God's part but an active invitation to realign our lives with His will. The ultimate message of the potter and the clay is that God is patient, but His patience should not be mistaken for acquiescence. It is a call to action, a call to return to the One who formed us and desires for us to live in accordance with His design.
Key Takeaways:
- We are created in the image of God, fashioned by the Divine Potter to be vessels of honor, reflecting His glory and purpose. This identity is not just a theological concept; it is the foundation of our worth and calling. As we live out our days, let us remember that we are God's masterpieces, designed to exhibit His craftsmanship in every aspect of our lives. [30:38]
- God's anger is a manifestation of His justifiable love. When we witness or experience injustice, perversion, or violence, it is a reflection of the brokenness that angers God. His wrath is not arbitrary; it is a response to the desecration of what He has deemed good and sacred. As we contemplate the state of our world and our hearts, let us understand that God's anger is rooted in His profound love for His creation. [32:29]
- The concept of sowing and reaping is a spiritual principle that governs our lives. Every decision we make plants seeds that will grow and produce fruit. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap destruction, but if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life. This principle should guide our daily choices, encouraging us to invest in what is eternal rather than what is fleeting. [48:51]
- God's patience is an expression of His mercy, not a sign of indifference or weakness. The delay in divine judgment is an opportunity for us to repent and align ourselves with God's will. Let us not mistake God's forbearance for tolerance of sin but recognize it as a chance to change our ways and embrace the life He offers. [41:23]
- The call to return to God is both a personal and communal invitation. It is not enough to acknowledge God's patience; we must respond by rending our hearts and not just our garments. True repentance involves a transformation of our inner being, a turning away from sin, and a turning toward God's abundant love and grace. [45:01]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NIV)
> This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.
2. Jeremiah 19:1-2, 10-11 (NIV)
> This is what the Lord says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There proclaim the words I tell you, ... Then break the jar while those who go with you are watching, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.
3. Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)
> Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the significance of the potter and the clay imagery in Jeremiah 18:1-6?
2. How does Jeremiah 19:1-2, 10-11 illustrate God's response to Israel's actions?
3. According to Galatians 6:7-8, what are the consequences of sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the Spirit?
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the nature of God's anger and its justification? ([32:00])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the imagery of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18:1-6 help us understand our relationship with God?
2. What does the breaking of the clay jar in Jeremiah 19:10-11 symbolize about God's judgment and mercy?
3. How does the principle of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7-8 apply to our daily decisions and spiritual life?
4. Why does the pastor describe God's anger as a form of "justifiable love"? How does this perspective change our understanding of divine wrath? ([32:00])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like a "marred pot" in God's hands. How did you experience His reshaping in your life? ([27:05])
2. In what ways have you seen the principle of sowing and reaping play out in your own life? Are there areas where you need to start sowing to the Spirit instead of the flesh? ([38:06])
3. How can you respond to God's patience in your life? Are there specific areas where you need to repent and realign with His will? ([41:23])
4. The pastor mentioned that God's anger is rooted in His love for His creation. How does this understanding affect your view of justice and mercy in your own life? ([32:00])
5. What practical steps can you take this week to "rend your heart and not your garments" as Joel 2:13 suggests? How can you show genuine repentance and transformation? ([45:01])
6. Identify one area in your life where you have been resisting God's design. What changes can you make to align more closely with His purpose for you? ([27:05])
7. How can you encourage others in your community to return to God and embrace His design for their lives? What role can you play in fostering a spirit of repentance and renewal? ([45:01])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Divine Craftsmanship
We are not accidents of nature but intentional creations, fashioned by the Divine Potter with purpose and care. This identity as God's masterpieces is not merely a comforting thought; it is the bedrock of our worth and the compass for our calling. As vessels of honor, we are designed to reflect God's glory and purpose in every aspect of our lives. It is essential to recognize that our daily actions and decisions either contribute to the beauty of this divine artwork or mar its intended design. We must strive to live in a way that exhibits His craftsmanship, allowing His image in us to shine forth in our character, our relationships, and our contributions to the world. [30:38]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Reflection: How can you live today in a way that reflects God's craftsmanship in your life?
Day 2: Understanding God's Justifiable Love
God's anger is not a sign of His malice but a manifestation of His justifiable love. When we encounter or perpetrate injustice, perversion, or violence, we are witnessing the desecration of what God has deemed good and sacred. His wrath is a response to such actions, a reflection of His deep love for His creation and His desire for it to remain untainted. Understanding this aspect of God's nature helps us to see the world and our hearts through His eyes. It challenges us to align our actions with His will and to stand against the brokenness that angers Him. [32:29]
"Because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." - Romans 2:5 ESV
Reflection: In what ways can you actively stand against injustice in your community as a response to God's justifiable love?
Day 3: Sowing Seeds of Eternity
The spiritual principle of sowing and reaping governs our lives, reminding us that every decision plants seeds that will grow and bear fruit. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption, but if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life. This principle should not only guide our daily choices but also encourage us to invest in what is eternal. It is a call to examine our habits, our thoughts, and our priorities, ensuring that they are aligned with the Spirit's leading. By doing so, we cultivate a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit and reflects the kingdom of God. [48:51]
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." - Galatians 6:7 ESV
Reflection: What is one habit you can start today that sows to the Spirit rather than to the flesh?
Day 4: Recognizing God's Merciful Patience
God's patience is a testament to His mercy, offering us time to repent and realign our lives with His will. This period should not be mistaken for indifference or weakness but seen as an opportunity for transformation. It is a divine invitation to turn away from sin and embrace the life He desires for us. As we experience God's forbearance, let us respond with urgency, recognizing that the time granted to us is a gift not to be squandered but to be used for genuine change. [41:23]
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
Reflection: How can you use the gift of today to move towards repentance and a closer walk with God?
Day 5: Responding to the Call of Repentance
The call to return to God is a personal and communal summons that requires a response from the depths of our hearts. It is not enough to acknowledge God's patience; we must rend our hearts and not just our garments. True repentance involves a transformation of our inner being, a turning away from sin, and a turning toward God's abundant love and grace. It is a journey that we undertake not alone but as a community, supporting one another as we seek to live in the fullness of God's design for us. [45:01]
"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." - Joel 2:12-13a ESV
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to demonstrate true repentance and a heart turned towards God?
Quotes
- "Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, to nurse a grievance, to entertain an impure fantasy, or to wallow in self-pity we are sowing to the flesh." [48:51] (Download | )
- "God is patient with you with me and sometimes just because you haven't experienced the consequences of the choices that you've made doesn't mean that God has fallen asleep or God has just said okay it's all fine." [43:23] (Download | )
- "If you don't have a God who can be mad at injustice, then you have a world in which anything is okay, and God says I made you for more so I expect more." [43:23] (Download | )
- "God's way is to say I'm giving you time right now where you can say I'm going to return to you, I'm going to align my life with you, I'm going to live by your purposes by the things that your word says." [45:01] (Download | )
- "Joel chapter 2 verse 13 says rend your hearts and not your garments, return to the Lord your God for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger abounding in love and He relents from sending calamity." [45:01] (Download | )
- "Whoever sows to please their flesh from their flesh will reap destruction and whoever sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life." [46:47] (Download | )
- "You were created in the image of God and what we see in the Bible is that in Genesis two and Genesis one where we get the creation account that God made man a made woman and he created them in His image." [30:38] (Download | )
- "God's anger is ultimately justifiable love... if you spend your time making something that's beautiful and useful and intended to flourish and then somebody who maybe you give it to takes it and they use it for a perverse purpose you would be angry and right to be angry." [32:29] (Download | )
- "Just because God's wrath hasn't been seen doesn't mean that it will not be seen... the reason basically that it seems so long between now and the coming of God is that He's giving people time to repent." [39:35] (Download | )
- "God's patience is not acquiescence, God's patience doesn't mean that God has said this isn't a thing but it means that God is saying I'm giving you time to turn." [41:23] (Download | )
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?