Isaiah 64:8
But as for you, O LORD, you are our Father; and we are clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hands.
I was talking with my dad earlier this evening while roofing. We talked about a couple popular ministers and their ministry endeavors. The conversation inspired thought regarding the diversity of God’s working with mankind. The idea reminded me of a C.S. Lewis story regarding a lion. The lion seemed to be a negative influence in one individuals story, yet saved another character in their story. I wonder how the external form in which we experience life; which is neither evil or good, rather a container for either expression, can seem limitless. It seems like God may use a seeming limitless set of possible experiences as means to mold us. I’ve watched His work in my life and in my heart. Often the maturing and development wasn’t comfortable, rather stretching and at times quite painful. The potter shapes us thru our experiences, and thru His spoken Word.
While at a coffee shop, I received a download of information for one of my best friends, who was considering joining the military. One thing that stuck with me was an open ended question I received, I knew to ask him what type of character development would come from the experience. I also knew that whether he joins or doesn’t join, the path with either choice would lead to a similar end, though thru a dramatically different means.
In the end of our life, we look back on our memories; our experiences. We naturally examine what we learned and can recount the emotional fabric of our life, the ups and the downs. Who have we become? Into who’s image have we been formed into? Did we cooperate with the potter? The gardener? The refiner? The adjectives go on to describe God’s inner work and illustrative ways of altering our inner state our inner self. The point, is that God wants to develop us, shape us, and edify us… to look like Christ, to look like Him.
Luke 6:43-45
43“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.