Last week when I wrote the blog “The Pruning of the Plants”, a reader by the name of Ray commented about a passage of scripture I referenced which was Jeremiah 18:1-4.

Jeremiah 18:1-4 (NIV) This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 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.

Ray singled out the aspect of this scripture which relates to the marred vessel in the Potters Hand and noted that the Potter did not discard the vessel but reworked it as it seemed good to Him. This statement from Ray greatly moved me because for a truth the Potter did not discard what He was making, but instead reworked it into something better.

Ray went on to say that Brother’s and Sister’s in the Lord need to take on the mind of the Potter and use it daily. Ray my friend, you are so on point!  When contrasting our Heavenly Father’s mind to our earthly mind we see some strong contrast. Our approach is that on the first signs of dislike, discomfort, disfunction, or disagreement we desire to discard things.

We see this behaviour all over the atmosphere nowadays, it is everywhere  and ubiquitous. It can even be found in little and simple things. While scrolling through social media, you see articles, videos or pictures that people click dislike to or give a thumbs down in an instant. In the first moments of viewing the content, it is marked as disliked because it is unwanted and unwelcomed by them.

This attitude also applies to major things in our lives. Individuals easily discard marriages at the first signs of trouble, family members are disowned because of behavioural issues or viewpoints, friends are cut off after one disagreement, employees hastily leave jobs when  they and their bosses are at  loggerheads.

This kind of replace instead of repair mindset can also be found in material things. Once the electronic device or the kitchen appliance is defective, we no longer repair it, but simply replace it with the ease of a swiped Visa Card. Taking the defective unit to a repair shop is too much work and inconvenience to the easier alternative.

But I really thank God this morning that His mindset is not of rip out and replace but one of restore and rebuild. The marred thing in his hands was not thrown away but moulded into something better. He takes the time to work with us, is patient and kind, gracious and full of compassion (Isaiah 30:18), slow to anger and has great lovingkindness (Numbers 14:18) and is merciful and spares our lives (Ezekiel 20:17). This is the kind of God we serve and these attributes clearly represent His mind and heart.

Many times, in my Christian walk I felt to give up, I felt unworthy of His love and affection for one reason or another. My righteousness which is like filthy rags (Romans 3:10, Isaiah 64:6) use to make me feel like I am undeserving of His love. Some of you might even be feeling this way at present, however this is not what God wants us to feel or think. God does not discard us as men discard things. And even when we discard Him, He hunts us down because His word declares that He leaves the Ninety Nine and goes after the One (Matthew 18:12).

If you still feel God discards us quickly then just ask Moses after he killed a man, ask King David after he committed adultery, ask Peter after he denied Jesus 3 times.

Our God is reminding us today that he does not discard anyone. Once you are breathing and have life, you have hope of a better future. The situation you are going through will change, your problems will change, but the love of God the Father will forever remain.  

Jeremiah had to go down to the Potters House to get the message, but he got the message. Today I hope and pray that you also get the message – “God did not discard the vessel! But he reworked it into something better as He sees fit”. Press into the Lord and patiently wait on Him to build and rebuild you into what he wants.

I love you with the love of the Lord my friends and I leave you today with a powerful testimony of a man who God did not discard.

For some strange reason Dane Miller was last seen admiring the pottery in his kitchen cabinet.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller | Author

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