Hi Friends:
I was studying the first section of Jeremiah, Chapter 18, when God revealed something to me that I had never seen before.
Of course, this is the “Potter and the Clay” story, which we have all read many times.
To paraphrase, “He is the Potter, and we are the clay.”
My Pastor used to like to say that, “He is the Boss.”
The exact Scripture verse, which is Jeremiah 18:6 is:
“Oh house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, as are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”
This Scripture was using the example of a potter, as a “type,” to show God’s power in dealing with the nations of the earth. In particular, the consequences if that nation will “turn from their evil,” or “if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice …”
However, what I saw, for the first time, was in the opening of this portion of Scripture, when God instructed Jeremiah to “go down to the potter’s house” (18:2a). God then clearly told Jeremiah that “I will cause thee to hear my words” (18:2b).
“I will cause thee to hear my words.”
Immediately, it hit me, and I wrote this to the side of the verse, yes, in my Bible:
“BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.”
It really resounded in my soul.
One of the Bibles I use is the “Thompson Chain Reference Bible.”
I wrote my note just above the right margin note #1776, entitled, “Inspiration.”
“By any means necessary.”
So often I write, and have even recently, how God will use “any means necessary” to reach us.
It may be just part of a conversation, one phrase we hear, from a conversation, as we walk by.
I’ve stepped off an elevator and hear just enough to confirm something.
It may be a poster we just happen to see on a doorway or hallway at school or office.
I’ve seen a license plate, or a bumper sticker, or words on a billboard, or part of an advertisement on a truck, which was exactly what I needed to see or hear at that particular moment.
If we will keep our eyes and ears open, and especially our hearts open, God will use “any means necessary” to reach us.
I can guarantee you that if you will include prayer and Bible study in your daily routine, God will speak to you. Plus, if you will stay in an attitude of prayer, which leads to an “attitude of gratitude,” it will seem that everywhere you go, in everything you do, God will speak to you.
God has spoken to me, clearly, in places like the shower, and certainly the car, anywhere I was … because, let’s face it … Everywhere you go … He goes. He’s there with you. We have this good ‘ol habit of liking to use a phrase like, “Then … God showed up …” The fact of the matter is that He was there the whole time.
And … ready for this … He was there before you …
God loves us. He gave Himself for us. All He wants is to have a relationship with us. To be with us. I think, though, most importantly, for us to “be with Him.” He’s already with us, for us. He wants us to know that. To believe that.
Man, is it difficult to have a relationship with someone you don’t know.
Written that a time or two.
God has given us so much.
He just wants us to receive it.
Acknowledge it.
I think about this:
How do we feel when we go out of our way to help someone, or give someone something that we didn’t have to give them … and, they don’t even acknowledge it.
… Just saying … (I read that in an email today) …
So, God loves us so much that He will, “by any means necessary,” try to reach us.
Encourage us.
Help us.
Bless us.
By any means necessary, he will “cause thee to hear my words.”
By the way, another note I made, off to the side, as I was studying this passage:
In 18:4, the potter had made a vessel which “was marred in the hand of the potter.”
It was damaged.
Didn’t say how.
Just that it was “marred.”
Did the potter throw away the clay?
Start over with another batch of clay (sorry, I don’t what they call a “batch” of clay)?
No, the potter took the exact same clay, the clay that had been damaged, and
“he made it again …”
The note I wrote off to the side:
“HE DIDN’T DISCARD-HE MADE IT AGAIN”
God’s Word is awesome.
He loves us so much that He will “cause thee to hear my words.”
By any means necessary.
Blessings to you, and your family,
Richard. Vincent. Rose.
pastorappreciationblog.com 