In Touch Daily Devotion

In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 12-13, 2008 -- A Spiritual Pottery Lesson -- Isaiah 64:8 I decided to take a cue from the prophet Jeremiah, who visited a potter's studio at the Lord's request (Jeremiah 18:1-6). So I stopped by an art institute to observe a class--my sole purpose was to better understand the biblical metaphor of God as the Potter and people as the clay. Here's what I learned when I walked into a room full of whirring pottery wheels. The Potter has power over the clay. He can do what He chooses. We humans do have limited free will, but God's will is greater. So even if we try to resist His sculpting hand, He continues to work toward His purpose. The master Craftsman has set out to achieve a particular design in us, and He has a plan to make it take shape. The Potter works the clay with patience. Since God knows that spiritual maturity can't be rushed, He forms our Christlike character slowly--one experience at a time. That means He must also have perseverance, as human clay sometimes shifts off-center and becomes misshapen. Just as clay can be fashioned only when it sits precisely in the middle of the wheel, Christians must be in the Father's will to grow spiritually. The Potter maneuvers the drifting believer back into position and begins remolding. He never discards His vessels but tirelessly works to perfect them. Our God is a personal Potter. His creations reflect His personality and character. And His Spirit is poured into each human vessel so He can be an intimate part of our life. The result is a work of true beauty--a saint wholly committed to Him.

Trish just wanted to thank you for your lovely prayer for my pregnant daughter who was having problems. She saw the doc yesterday and it's not as bad as they first thought. She will still be at a higher than normal risk but right now things are looking more like this little one can survive. Praise the Lord-this is her last chance for another child as a hysterectomy is the next step because of other gyn issues. So I am still looking for another grandbaby to show up come Aug. Thanks again.