Monday, October 21, 2013 -- Walking Hand In Hand
Monday October 21, 2013
As we look at this lovely story of the potter working with clay, we want to focus on the phrase, "then the word of the Lord came to me." Let's read the story and see where that phrase fits in.
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.” (Jeremiah 18:1-6 NIV)
So, Jeremiah listened, heard the word of the Lord, and followed the simple instruction to go to the potter's house. While there, waiting for God to give him a promised message, he began to watch the potter at his wheel. It was THEN that the word of the Lord came to him. Jeremiah didn't get all the details at the beginning. There were steps of obedience and simple faith he had to take before the details were made clear to him.
Two of my brothers talk about walks they took with my granddad when they were young. They can tell you in great detail about walking hand-in-hand with him uptown to this place and that. When those boys were young they didn't know all the places their granddad was going to take them. They just loved him, enjoyed being with him, knew he loved them, and knew that he would get them to the right place if they would just walk along with him. They also knew that it was fun to be with Granddad. Six decades later they tell those stories with warmth and love.
Where are you in your life journey with God? Many times we want the destination, the insight, the answer and the breakthrough to be revealed to us right away. However, our loving God knows what is needed to get us to a place where we can understand the lesson. Telling us ahead of all the twists and turns along the way will only confuse and frustrate us and perhaps even make us fearful. In love, He withholds information and doesn’t share it with us until the time is right. God tenderly holds our hand and gently leads us along an unknown path that will take us to the right place. Are we willing to go on a journey that God has planned for us? Are we willing to accept that God knows the way we are to take? Are we willing to trust a good and loving God to lead us safely forward?
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12 NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV)
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26 NIV)
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