A Closer Walk

"But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand," Isaiah 64:8 NASB. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah was a messenger for Almighty God and spoke on behalf of God to the Kingdom of Judah, its Kings, its citizens and residents, and other countries and peoples. While these messages, or sermons if you will, are meant for the various countries, peoples, or persons they are addressed to, there are lessons for us as well.
The Lord our God tells us specifically that WE are the clay, and HE is the potter, and not the other way around. Why would He want us to know that? Perhaps to help us understand His Sovereignty, and that He has authority over us. Because He is the Potter and we are the clay, He can make us into anything He chooses. The potter begins with a lump of clay. He places this clay on his potter's wheel, which is a flat circular table that revolves. As the wheel spins the potter uses his hands to shape the clay into the vessel he desires to make. The intended use of the vessel will help determine its shape and design. One more thing. When the potter has completed the vessel, it must be put through the fire, the kiln. This makes the vessel very strong and more useful. The vessels that don't surrender to the fire shatter, and get swept up with a broom and a dustpan.
What does this mean for us? Our Lord will bring people and experiences into our lives, and across our paths, that He will use to shape us into the vessels He desires us to be. There could be two purposes for these encounters. First, to make us more like Christ. This our God is doing ever and always. Second, to shape us into the vessel He desires to use for His good purpose. A plumber and a software engineer need very different backgrounds and training, for example. How do we know God's purpose for us? Certainly prayer and Bible reading could be helpful, maybe even much prayer and Bible reading. But beyond that we continue to put one foot in front of the other as we go through life.
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps,” Proverbs 16:9 NASB. As we work and do things, even try new things, our Lord will direct our steps. What a comforting promise! If you are asked to help or serve in some capacity, that should be considered prayerfully and carefully. Could it be that the Lord is directing your steps toward this? Try it. Give it your best effort. Perhaps this is the direction God desires you to go. And remember, you have been molded and shaped in such a way so as to be a vessel for the Lord's own use according to His own purpose.
Each one of us should be using the unique talents, abilities, and gifts that our Father in Heaven has provided for us, in order that we might become the faithful vessel He has shaped us to be. For His good purpose and pleasure.
“For I am confidant of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus,” Plilippians 1:6 NASB.