Prison Lectionary

Jeremiah 18:1-11

“Broken, but not Shattered”

by AMN

One of the most overlooked descriptions of our thrice holy God is that of a potter working with freshly-made clay. In the beginning of Jeremiah 19, the prophet is sent to a potter’s house to watch the craftsman work with the raw material. As Jeremiah watches the potter, he notices that it takes a second effort before the potter is satisfied with the vessel’s form.

In verse four, the vessel’s initial shape is called marred. The Hebrew word is shachath, which means corrupt, ruined or destroyed. So basically, the vessel was considered to be garbage or worthless.

In the eyes of today’s society, over two million people in America are considered to be corrupt, ruined and worthless. Their solution for the “marred” vessels is to lock ’em up and throw away the key. Sadly, I’m one of those Americans that has been a victim of this savage plague.

Thanks and glory to Jesus Christ our Lord for verse six! It says,

‘O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?’ saith the LORD. ‘Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine hand, O house of Israel.’

Although considered to be one of American’s corrupt rejects, my Heavenly Father does not consider me beyond repair; neither does he feel that way about any of you who read this message.

As fresh clay, God is shaping each of us to be like His Blessed Son, Jesus Christ and vessels of honor that glorify His name before all of His creation.

Today’s societal elites might despise you and deem you unfit for their cause; but that’s okay because God is making you fit for His use. The greatness and power of God can change any situation you are in. You just have to believe it.

Being broken is the only way we can enter God’s Throne Room of Grace…