Crack Pots

                                       
                              

Growing up I remember that there was a phrase used to refer to someone who did a foolish or silly thing.  It was sometimes used in jest and sometimes to ridicule; “you’re a crack pot”.  Though I’ve not heard it much recently my generation and older may remember this phrase and perhaps even still use it on occasion.  Truth be known we are all cracked pots.

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the works of your hand.”    -Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

Yet how many of us have been guilty of living as if we are the Potter having designed our own lives.

“You turn things upside down!  Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, ‘He did not make me’, or the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’.”     -Isaiah 29:17 (ESV)

Truth be known God has designed all of us for a purpose.  By striving to take control of our own lives we wind up damaging what God has created and become “cracked pots”.  But there is hope.

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” ³ So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. ⁴ And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. ⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”  –Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)

Praise God our damaged souls can be “reworked” into something better.  It is impossible for man to soften the clay and rework it once its been hardened by the fire.  When damaged it is only good to be destroyed and discarded.  God, on the other hand, can soften the soul again through the His Word and the Holy Spirit that it can be fashioned after His design.   We can be “reworked”.  In fact, God is in the business of reworking or renewing us in His image again.  

So if you feel like damaged goods maybe today is the day you can return to your Potter so He can reshape and remake you into something useful in His Kingdom.  Let go and put yourself in His hands.
                               

WISDOM FOR LIFE

One of the most quoted passages from the book of Proverbs is 3:5-6 which is packed with so much wisdom.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

Let’s briefly break this passage down so we can take it in.

1)     “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,…”

Our path of life-long wisdom starts with trusting and loving the Lord God first and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33) then we will discover that other things in our lives seem to fall into place nicely.  So the question to ask yourself is, “Just how much do you really trust God”?

2)     “and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Why is it that so often we tend to try to do things our way first?   Then we find ourselves time and time again facing a predicament or challenge we did not count on or anticipate.  Yes we do need to increase our understanding but that should come from God who is willing to provide wisdom if we but ask.   What we need to do is strive to get “our own understanding” in tune with God’s so that our understanding comes from Him.  How can we do that you may ask?  Through prayer, reading God’s Word and the counsel of Godly friends we can increase our understanding to be in harmony with God’s desires.  The real question is, “Where are you leaning?” 

3)    “In all your ways acknowledge him,”

It is one thing to know about God but quite another to actually know God.  Knowing God in your life will be seen by how you declare your relationship with Him.  Do you declare the greatness of God in your life to others, particularly to those outside the church?  Do you acknowledge how God works in your life and give Him praise and credit for His moving in your life?  One thing I think we can all do a better job of is giving praise reports of how God has moved and influenced our lives.   When something wonderful happens that honors God I call it a “God sighting”.  Acknowledging God’s actions and movement in your life with not only draw you closer to Him but encourage others to do the same.   So the question to ask yourself on this is, “What can you acknowledge this week about God”?

4)    “and he will make straight your paths.”

If you want to strive after Godliness you need God to help direct you in the proper way to go.   If you want success to honor God you must be fully committed to God in everything you do.   God has your best interest at heart and you really should want to be where He wants you to be.  A question to ask is “Do you really want to travel the straight and narrow road that God has set before you?”

The Challenge:

Memorize this passage so that you can quickly bring it mind from time to time as a reminder of God’s will for your life and how to walk in Godly wisdom.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

Matthew 7:7-8 Is Not A Blanket Promise

                                                                          
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."  
                                                                                   -Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)

"Ask and you shall receive" is a phrase of Jesus' that occurs several times in the Gospels in various forms. Too often it has been taken out of context and misinterpreted to mean "ask for anything you want and I'll give it to you". 

Jesus goes on to say in verse 11 "...how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" This same discourse is repeated in Luke 11:9-13 but the words "good things" are replaced with "the Holy Spirit".  The good gift God wants to give His children is the Holy Spirit as we can also see in Acts 2:38 which reads, "And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one  of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."     John 14:13-14 (ESV)

To ask anything of God as our Father and to do so in His name we must first be as His child. When one follows the instructions of Acts 2:38, they becomes a child of God. If as His child we ask for something and the answer is "no" we may be inclined to be frustrated but don't loose heart. "No" can also mean "Not now" as our desires and requests must be in harmony with His will.
When we finish our prayers "in Jesus Name" we are saying that above all may His will be done, not ours. 
 
Are you asking God according to His will? This can be a tough one to know. Of course, the Scriptures do reveal much of God's will for our lives but in specific areas or circumstances is what we want actually His will?  If what we want is not God's will, we should not really want to receive it should we? 

The real challenge then is aligning our wants to God's will. Like in any relationship the stronger and closer the relationship the better one understands the other. The closer we strive to get in fellowship to God the clearer His will becomes and the easier it will be to know what to ask for in His name.  This is where faith comes in because without faith it is impossible to please God. 

Another important point to make that is often lost in many English translations is the fact that this text in Matthew 7:7-8 it is not referring to a one time request. In the Greek it is not simply "ask", "seek" or "knock" but "ask and keep on asking", "seek and keep on seeking" and "knock and keep on knocking".  Though I'm usually not a fan of the New Living Translation in this instance it gets it right.

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."

                                                                                         -Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

We are to keep on praying or as Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing". 

We are not only to "ask" but to actively "seek" that which we ask for and to persistently "knock" or pursue God's good and perfect will for our lives.  This is not a passive activity. To truly ask, seek and knock takes time, energy and work.

So don't give up! Keep on seeking and asking and watch your faith grow!