A Potter's Vessel - Part 2

The term "throwing" comes from this next step. The lump of clay is thrown down on the wheel, forcefully, as close to the center of the wheel as possible. If the clay is not thrown hard enough, it will not adhere to the wheel and the work will be ruined when the clay moves.

This is definitely not a comfortable step for the clay. Imagine that freefall and the sudden stop at the end. I've felt like that fairly often and I'm sure that you have too. But if we are going to be useful to God we need to allow him to shape us. I often feel like crawling off God's wheel and hiding, because being shaped for His purposes is uncomfortable, very uncomfortable. Not only do we need to cling to the fact that God has our ultimate good in mind, we also need to submit to His hand in leading us where we should go and what we should be doing.



Once the clay is on the wheel, the fun starts. When the potter sits at the wheel, he needs to be sure that he is centered at the wheel. His body, arms, hands, head and eyes are all concentrated on the exact center of the wheel. If he is off-center, he will push the clay off-center and will not be able to make anything.

This is something that I just realized this year. - God is omnipotent. (You've heard that before too, right?) At a seminar I attended in march, the speaker pointed out just what it meant to be omnipotent. It means to be fully present, possessing all power, in every place. I used to think of omnipotence as God being like a thin layer that covered everything. That's not at all what it is. He is fully present, capable of using all His power on my behalf at any time. He is paying attention to me fully, just as he is paying attention to you fully, at the same time. The saying "You can't do two things at once" does NOT apply to God. I am at the center of His attention, just as you are.



Centered and with all his attention on the clay and what he is doing with it, the potter guides the clay onto the exact center of the wheel. With one hand on the side to guide and one hand keeping the clay from spinning up into an unusable tower, the potter begins work the clay.

You would think that we would automatically relax, knowing that God's hand was guiding us. But all too often I find myself tensing up and fighting the very guidance that God has put in my life. I struggle against it and at time really resent it. I also tend to get impatient and want to "get going" and grow up to quickly, but then I'd be like that unusable tower of clay. Only by submitting to the guiding hands of God will I be able to be used by Him.



The whole time the clay is being worked, the potter has a bucket of water nearby to keep the clay moist and workable. A constant source of just the right amount of water ensures that the clay can continue to be worked to fulfill the potter's vision for it.

This might be another step that is overlooked as not having much importance but it is vital. A constant exposure the water of the Word of God is vital for the life of a Christian. Without it, just like the clay, we dry out, become fragile, and aren't good for much of anything. We need to regularly bathe in God's word for guidance, comfort and vision.