CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7f0ub8-god-focus-this-morning-ep-623-shaped-not-molded.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  SHAPED NOT MOLDED

God is often referred to as the potter; we are his clay. This comes from Jeremiah. God sent Jeremiah to the potter’s house then he spoke to him about his authority over the clay. God holds the world in the palm of his hand. He has the ability to raise up nations or cause them to fall. He can raise up leaders in those countries and he can cause them to fall. He wants leaders who will do good and not evil.

Jeremiah 18:4-6 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

No where did God say, I will shove you in a mold, because I want you all the same. No where did God say, pick someone and try to be just like them. As Children of God, we sometimes try to shape the clay. We have an idea of what a Christian should look like, we dismiss people who do not easily fit into our idea or our mold. If God had wanted us to all look alike, instead of fashioning us on a potter’s wheel with his hands so carefully, he would have put us all in a mold. That way we would all be exactly alike. We are called to holiness but we are not all called to be exactly alike.

We are the body that Christ works through in the earth. Collectively and individually, we are to be about our father’s business. We make a bigger impact if we can work together. It is our job as his hands and feet to reach the lost and broken of the world. People who have made mistakes and have fallen. Ones who have listened to the enemy and fallen into his trap. Ones who do not fit our ideal mold.

We are not called to judge; we are called to show compassion. When I think about God’s hands and feet I think about the parable of the good Samaritan. It is easy to walk by the broken and hurting when there are no outward signs of that brokenness. Physical wounds heal faster than emotional ones. Others passed by not thinking the man was worth saving. Only one tried to save the man. We have to be like this, we must show everyone the love of Christ.

Jesus died to set us free in every way. With that freedom we can work and live to be a light. But that freedom did not come with man’s by-laws, and rules that bind God’s children. It did not come with a denomination name. It came with freedom to live according to the written word of God and the leading of the Holy Ghost.

The clay is a metaphor for mankind; he can take the flaw people we are and remake us into a vessel of use. God cares about what we care about. He wants to see the people we love saved, healed and delivered the same as we do. God even wants to see those that we overlook or ignore set free. He died for all.

One example of how we are compared to God. Samuel was sent by God to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king. As the sons of Jesse lined up, Samuel looked at one of David’s older brothers, he looked like a warrior and leader. He is the one Samuel would have chosen. Many of us would have too, because he looked like a king. But his heart was not after God’s heart like David. To look at David, many would have thought that God was joking. He was a kid and didn’t look like a king. But God knew deep in his chest beat the heart of a warrior. God can see our inner strength and our faith.

1 Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

God sees and knows all that someone is carrying, their pain, disappointment, fears and tears. When we look at them, we may only see the things they have done to their appearance to protect themselves from pain. We may discount them, but God knows who will yield to his calling and who will not answer.

It is not our job to decide who is worthy to hear the story of Jesus, but to tell them and let God shape them into vessels he can use.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

• BLOG