8.26.20: I Am the Potter

So I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.

Then God’s Message came to me: Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of God? Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, my people.

---------------

I don't believe this pandemic was part of God's plan.

I don't believe it was planned by evil scientists.

I don't believe it was planned by bats.

Stuff happens.

And let's get a little historical perspective here.

We've seen more serious pandemics than this.

The big one came around 1492.

The latest scholarship says that 80% to 90% of America's Native population died of pandemics when Europeans arrived.

I don't believe that was part of God's plan either.

But I believe God had a plan to deal with that crisis, and I believe the LORD has a plan for God's people today.

God's plan is too big to be derailed by a virus.

God is using this to reshape us, mold us, create something new.

We're learning to rely on new ways to communicate, new ways to worship, new ways to care for each other.

We're learning to be less dependent on buildings and structures.

We're not sure what our world will look like in 2021, but we know it will be different.

I don't know what that will look like, but I know Who does.

And I know God's plan hasn't changed.

Love the Lord your God with all you heart and soul and strength,

And love your neighbor as yourself.

Stick to the plan.

And trust the potter's hands.

-----------------------------

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.