The Relationship of the Potter and the Clay

As our loving Father molds and shapes us on a daily basis into the exact vessel that He needs, what’s our responsibility?

God uses pictures to illustrate what He is accomplishing in our daily lives. One of these pictures is the relationship of the potter and the clay. God not only created the first man out of the ground, but He is creating in us His character.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary comments that “His workmanship” is from the Greek word poiema, from which we get the word poem. God is the Master Artist and Designer, the Master Potter. We are pieces of clay in His loving hands.

The Potter’s prerogative

The potter’s power over the clay is an illustration of the prerogative of God in His dealing with us (Romans 9:21). As sons and daughters, we must be content with what He is making with us. We must not compare and judge ourselves against one another.

It is His decision how He uses the clay on the potter’s wheel. As a piece of clay, we do not have a voice in the matter. We must be grateful that we have been chosen to be the clay that He is using at this time (Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 100:1-5; Philippians 2:13).

We are the clay that becomes His workmanship. We become the vessel that He is in need of for future use. We can’t all be cups. He also needs plates, crockery, vases, cooking utensils, etc. There are many needs in God’s family.

Just as a loving father has the very best intentions for his son or daughter, God knows beyond a shadow of a doubt what is best for each of His sons and daughters. “You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).

The responsibility of the clay

However, this does not mean that we have no part in this project. What is the responsibility of the clay in the Potter’s hands?

As the clay, we must be submissive and pliable as the Potter is shaping us into the vessel that He desires. One of the qualities of being submissive and pliable is having a truly repentant attitude as we diligently work to remove the impurities from our own clay. We do this with God’s help because God desires a pure product to work with (1 John 3:3).

This purification process is a team effort that the Potter has designed. As the clay is becoming more mature, the Potter can work with it more easily in reshaping His sons and daughters.

As the Potter uses water in shaping the clay, we must drink in more of His Spirit, more of His true character. His Holy Spirit will give us the courage, the energy, the strength and the fortitude to become what the Master Potter designs.

As this process continues throughout our lives, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).

Then the Master Potter will be well pleased with His workmanship.

Tina Rupp attends the Youngstown, Ohio, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. She helped her husband design and build their home.