Daily Worship

Old clay — new pots

Fiona Reynolds September 10, 2019 0 0
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Image credit: Pixabay
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Jeremiah 18: 1-6 (NRSV)

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Come, 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 The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

You shaped me, O God, and you formed me

like a tender potter at her wheel you caressed me into being,

your creative Spirit channelled into my very soul.

Yet, sometimes I don’t want to be the way you moulded me,

I want to be more like someone else,

do something else;

I change my make-up—

I warp your good intentions

and distort what you fashioned well,

I become almost unrecognisable,

even to myself.

At such times, it is you, my Creator alone,

who still sees me as who I am and to whom I belong,

who sees me as I could be;

Reach out your hands and wrap your gentle fingers around me,

teasing out the bits that have gone hard

reshaping the clay I have distorted,

so I might sit in harmony with myself once again,

ready and able to fulfil my purpose in your world.

Shape me, O Lord, to work for your Kingdom,

form me, O God, in your image.