Potter's Hand Devotional
THE POTTER’S HAND
Read Jeremiah 18:1-6
The guests entered the potter’s house and quietly began looking around at the variety of vessels and wares he had on display. They marveled at the extraordinary beauty and uniqueness each piece revealed. As the guests looked closer, they notices the remarkably fine textures that feathered across the surface of each creation; gossamer webs of design crisscrossing the delicate finish, giving each piece a depth and character all its own. Even more odd were the unusually shaped markings embedded into the opposite sides of each vessel – long, rather jagged looking marks that completely contrasted with the delicate webs of texture which covered each creation. The guests wondered at the effect, having never seen anything like it before.
Wandering around the gallery, viewing these uncommon works of art, they noticed a door in the back, slightly ajar. Curiosity overcame their normally decorous manners and they nudged the door open a little further and peeked inside. There they saw the potter bent over his wheel in utter concentration, molding and shaping his newest creation. They stood transfixed as they watched him carefully draw out the perfect proportions and shape, spinning out a vessel that was obviously going to be as functional as it was beautiful. Finished with the molding, they watched silently as the potter carefully patted the creation all over and then firmly picked it up to be placed in the oven for firing.
Turning, the potter saw his visitors and his face lit up with a smile as he moved quickly to greet them. The visitors immediately apologized for having intruded into his inner sanctum. However, the potter waved away their apologies explaining that he felt that witnessing the creation process sometimes gave the owner a greater appreciation for the work of art. Together, the potter and his guests spent the next several hours browsing the room while he explained the significance and merits of each piece and they again marveled at these awesome works of art. At the end of their time together, the potter offered each guest a gift from his own personal collection, which he chose with great care. The guests were overcome by his generosity and eagerly accepted his offerings. At the door, the potter smiled and extended his hands to them inviting them to spend time with him again whenever they could. Reaching for his hands in gratitude, the visitors gasped as they looked down at the potter’s hands. For there they saw the gossamer webs crisscrossing his hands and at the wrists were two long and jagged scars shaped exactly like the markings on the vessels. And then they realized the true value of the gift – the wonderful depth and character and uniqueness of each piece came not from technique or skill but rather from the potter embedding the mark of his life directly into his creation.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
1. Reading from the following verses, how does God use His hands to shape our lives? Exodus 33:22, 2 Samuel 24:14, Psalm 16:11; Psalm 139:10, Psalm 145:16; Isaiah 40:12; Isaiah 64:8; Isaiah 65:2; John 10:28-29; Hebrews 10:31
2. What encouragements do you receive from these verses?
3. How has the Potter left the imprints of His life on you?
Copyright © 2000 by Kimberly Hannay Shoup
All rights reserved.
Read Jeremiah 18:1-6
The guests entered the potter’s house and quietly began looking around at the variety of vessels and wares he had on display. They marveled at the extraordinary beauty and uniqueness each piece revealed. As the guests looked closer, they notices the remarkably fine textures that feathered across the surface of each creation; gossamer webs of design crisscrossing the delicate finish, giving each piece a depth and character all its own. Even more odd were the unusually shaped markings embedded into the opposite sides of each vessel – long, rather jagged looking marks that completely contrasted with the delicate webs of texture which covered each creation. The guests wondered at the effect, having never seen anything like it before.
Wandering around the gallery, viewing these uncommon works of art, they noticed a door in the back, slightly ajar. Curiosity overcame their normally decorous manners and they nudged the door open a little further and peeked inside. There they saw the potter bent over his wheel in utter concentration, molding and shaping his newest creation. They stood transfixed as they watched him carefully draw out the perfect proportions and shape, spinning out a vessel that was obviously going to be as functional as it was beautiful. Finished with the molding, they watched silently as the potter carefully patted the creation all over and then firmly picked it up to be placed in the oven for firing.
Turning, the potter saw his visitors and his face lit up with a smile as he moved quickly to greet them. The visitors immediately apologized for having intruded into his inner sanctum. However, the potter waved away their apologies explaining that he felt that witnessing the creation process sometimes gave the owner a greater appreciation for the work of art. Together, the potter and his guests spent the next several hours browsing the room while he explained the significance and merits of each piece and they again marveled at these awesome works of art. At the end of their time together, the potter offered each guest a gift from his own personal collection, which he chose with great care. The guests were overcome by his generosity and eagerly accepted his offerings. At the door, the potter smiled and extended his hands to them inviting them to spend time with him again whenever they could. Reaching for his hands in gratitude, the visitors gasped as they looked down at the potter’s hands. For there they saw the gossamer webs crisscrossing his hands and at the wrists were two long and jagged scars shaped exactly like the markings on the vessels. And then they realized the true value of the gift – the wonderful depth and character and uniqueness of each piece came not from technique or skill but rather from the potter embedding the mark of his life directly into his creation.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
1. Reading from the following verses, how does God use His hands to shape our lives? Exodus 33:22, 2 Samuel 24:14, Psalm 16:11; Psalm 139:10, Psalm 145:16; Isaiah 40:12; Isaiah 64:8; Isaiah 65:2; John 10:28-29; Hebrews 10:31
2. What encouragements do you receive from these verses?
3. How has the Potter left the imprints of His life on you?
Copyright © 2000 by Kimberly Hannay Shoup
All rights reserved.
posted by Tammy at 1:30 PM
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