Ever had a clay pot kind of day? It's grey, cool (32f) and Friday. The readings for the Friday before Palm Sunday are Psalm 31:9-16, Job 13:13-19 and Philippians 1:21-30.
The Psalm selection is especially depressing, and the first place I found the clay pot reference, in fact the psalmist declares that " I am as useless as a broken pot."
Job is almost never uplifting, and here he's railing at his friends for trying to argue God's side, and not doing a particularly good job. He calls them clay pots, full of ash.
Even Philippians today is rather grim: 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Paul is sure he will stay alive to do God's will, but somehow finds strength in suffering and struggling for Christ.
Clay pots are utilitarian, cheap and breakable.
On a clay pot kind of day I feel useless, cheap, and broken.
Then I remember the Genesis passage telling me that God molded human beings out of the clay, into God's own image.
Most of my favorite serving bowls are clay pots.
Utilitarian, yes, or perhaps Useful. As in full of uses.
Not exactly cheap, but not as expensive as silver or mass produced china. I like to find my pots in the potters studio, where I can see the wheel and the kiln in the background. Those pots carry the image of their maker with them.
Breakable, yes. But, then I have an excuse to go visit the potter again.
You are UseFull! God has good plans for you, sometimes carrying cookies, sometimes holding the scraps to go to the compost. Some days the table is set for a festival, other days it's just family. Even a holey pot can be life saving when it filters water. You are made for the glory of God.
You are not cheap! You do have your maker's image etched in your very being. Let people know where you came from, who make you, who moves you. You are not mass-produced, you are beautiful in your individuality.
You are breakable. For we have all fallen short of the glory of God. But Christ, as the potter, re-makes us and shapes us into something that will not break in the eyes of God. Over and over again, Christ makes us new.
You are Good Clay Pots!
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm selection is especially depressing, and the first place I found the clay pot reference, in fact the psalmist declares that " I am as useless as a broken pot."
Job is almost never uplifting, and here he's railing at his friends for trying to argue God's side, and not doing a particularly good job. He calls them clay pots, full of ash.
Even Philippians today is rather grim: 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Paul is sure he will stay alive to do God's will, but somehow finds strength in suffering and struggling for Christ.
Clay pots are utilitarian, cheap and breakable.
On a clay pot kind of day I feel useless, cheap, and broken.
Then I remember the Genesis passage telling me that God molded human beings out of the clay, into God's own image.
Most of my favorite serving bowls are clay pots.
Utilitarian, yes, or perhaps Useful. As in full of uses.
Not exactly cheap, but not as expensive as silver or mass produced china. I like to find my pots in the potters studio, where I can see the wheel and the kiln in the background. Those pots carry the image of their maker with them.
Breakable, yes. But, then I have an excuse to go visit the potter again.
You are UseFull! God has good plans for you, sometimes carrying cookies, sometimes holding the scraps to go to the compost. Some days the table is set for a festival, other days it's just family. Even a holey pot can be life saving when it filters water. You are made for the glory of God.
You are not cheap! You do have your maker's image etched in your very being. Let people know where you came from, who make you, who moves you. You are not mass-produced, you are beautiful in your individuality.
You are breakable. For we have all fallen short of the glory of God. But Christ, as the potter, re-makes us and shapes us into something that will not break in the eyes of God. Over and over again, Christ makes us new.
You are Good Clay Pots!
Thanks be to God.
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