by Marilyn Ehle
“We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
The artist tossed a lump of clay onto the wheel, her hands moving deftly around the gray mass as the wheel began to turn. Slowly at first, then more quickly, the wheel began its rotation while the potter intentionally moved her fingers over the unrecognizable mound.
Just off to the side of the spinning wheel was a bowl of water. Regularly the potter dipped her fingers into the liquid and then back to the clay as she slowly formed it into the shape she envisioned. Because clay in its natural form is dry and “thirsty,” water is necessary for the finished product to be what its maker intends. Most of the water soaked into the clay but soon the wheel, the potter’s apron and even the floor was splashed.
God is lovingly determined to shape each of us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit is referred to as water in: …(Jesus) cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” (He said this in regard to the Spirit…) (John 7:38 and 39)
In addition, the word of God is used by the Spirit of God as cleansing water: You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (John 15:3) As we submit to the loving authority of the Holy Spirit—learning to regularly listen to His whispers—and drink deeply of the Word of God, we become beautiful vessels fit for the use intended by our Potter. And without our even being aware of it, God is being splashed into the lives around us.
Father, thank you for the dripping of your water into my life. And thank you, too, for the way you are splashing into the lives around me.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2010/08/19/me_dripping-splashing-water/
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