The Lords Prayer
Jeremiah 18:4-6 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in the hands of the potter; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to the potter. Then the word of the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 'Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made God's light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. God: Our loving Creator
Good morning, church family. I want to begin today by letting you know that the words I share are not my own. This message comes from a sermon written by Israel Steinmetz, which I found on the Firebrand website. As like some of you I’ve seen and experienced a lot, but this message struck a chord in me, and I felt it was perfect for our Labor Day Sunday reflection.
This past summer, I found myself reflecting on the work of the hands—the labor that has shaped not only our world but also our very souls. Israel’s sermon resonated deeply with me as it speaks of the profound imagery of pottery in the Bible, something I’d never thought of in such depth before.
The sermon starts with a fascinating story about an archaeological dig unearthing the era of the Judges when the tabernacle rested at Shiloh. Thousands of pottery pieces were found, each one a small, tangible piece of history. Dr. Mark Hassler, an Old Testament scholar and archaeologist, spoke about the pottery-making practices in the Ancient Near East. He shared that the very first example of pottery in Scripture comes from Genesis 2:7, where God formed the human out of the dust, the clay of the earth:
What a beautiful image that is! We are like clay in the hands of a loving God. But we are not just ordinary pottery. Unlike any other creation, we are shaped with the divine image as our template, and we are filled with the breath of life from God. That breath turns us from mere clay into dynamic beings, full of personality, purpose, and the ability to relate to God and each other:
In 2 Corinthians 4:6–7, Paul picks up on this imagery, describing Christians as “jars of clay” holding the treasure of God’s glory: Just as a clay lamp carries light, we carry the light of Christ within us. This metaphor is powerful—it reminds us that we are vessels created to shine God’s light in the world.
Yet, as with all metaphors, this one isn’t perfect. Metaphors help us understand aspects of truth, but they can only go so far. Israel Steinmetz explains how Paul, in his letters, often uses mixed metaphors to capture different dimensions of a relationship. For example, in 1 Thessalonians, Paul uses images of children, mothers, and fathers to describe his relationship with his brothers and sisters in Christ: It says that "Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well... For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into God's kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, NIV). One of the most debated passages in the New Testament, Romans 9–11, uses the potter-and-clay imagery to talk about God’s relationship with humanity. Romans 9:20-21 says "But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?" (Romans 9:20-21, NIV).' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?" This imagery has sparked many discussions about predestination and free will. Some have interpreted it to mean that God, like a potter, determines everything about the clay, including our salvation, with no room for our response.
But Israel’s sermon challenges this interpretation, and it’s one I agree with. When we look back to the Old Testament, we see that the potter-and-clay imagery isn’t about a passive, lifeless clay being shaped without any say. Instead, the clay has the capacity to respond. This is clear in passages like Jeremiah 18, where God tells Jeremiah that the clay in the potter’s hand can be reshaped based on its response—either in repentance or rebellion:
Jeremiah 18:4-6, NIV says "But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in the hands of the potter; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to the potter. Then the word of the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 'Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel'" So, what does this mean for us, especially on this Labor Day Sunday? It means that while God is our creator and sustainer, shaping us with love and care, we also have a role to play. We are not passive recipients of God’s work; we are active participants. We can choose to respond to God’s shaping with faith, obedience, and love, or we can resist and turn away:
This Labor Day, as we think about the work of our hands, let’s also think about the work God is doing in us. Like clay in the hands of a potter, we are being shaped each day. But remember, this is not a one-sided process. God’s design includes our response. God’s grace gives us the capacity to choose how we will be shaped—whether into vessels of honor, carrying the light of Christ, or something else: May we all choose to be pliable in God’s hands, responsive to God's touch, and ready to be shaped into something beautiful that reflects God’s glory to the world. Amen.
