Submitting to the Potter - Martin Wiles

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? Romans 9:21 NLT

He was a restless individual, rarely staying at one place of employment for long.

In his younger years, one of my uncles changed jobs numerous times. I always wondered why he never stayed at one place long. When I asked my grandparents, they had no answer either. I assumed he didn’t like anyone telling him what to do. However, my uncle finally resolved the issue. He purchased his own feed and seed store. Until they retired, my aunt and uncle worked tirelessly and earned a good living in the process.

Evidently, the apostle Paul encountered some who were struggling with God’s control over them. He compares God to a potter and then reminds his readers of the similarities. Just as the potter has control over what he makes—having the ability to destroy the item and start over—so God has authority over His creation. We may think we’re doing our own thing--and we do have free will--but our thing stops where God’s sovereignty begins.

Like my uncle, I, too, have at times bucked others’ control over me. I attribute my resistance to a Type A personality, which makes me love being in control, setting the rules, and not having to answer to anyone. The trouble is, everyone has to answer to someone. Even though my uncle owned his own business and established his own rules, he was still accountable to the Internal Revenue Service and also had to abide by town and state ordinances.

God is our Potter. What makes this comforting is knowing that the person who controls us is not mean, angry, or unloving. He is a loving heavenly Father who has an excellent plan for the lives of his creations. When we submit to his plan, he will lovingly guide us to his desired end. When we mess up, either he has an alternate plan or the ability to reconstruct the mess we’ve made. He formed us in love initially, and he will continue to form us the same way throughout our lifetimes. But we must submit to his sovereign control.

Submit to the Potter’s control and be amazed by what he’ll do.

Father, I give my life to you and ask you to accomplish your will. 

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