Thought for Friday, November 2nd

November 2, 2012

He is Working On You

“God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls and coal into diamonds using time and pressure.  He’s working on you too.”

-       Rick Warren

  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Romans 9:14-24

Is not the craft subject to the crafter: a painting to the artist; music at the whim of its composer; and should not life be submissive to the hands of its creator?

Yet, how often do we strive to make something of ourselves by our own devises, design or power?  How many efforts are made by humanity to alter and change their physical appearance in an attempt to improve the perception of its beauty?

Yet scripture reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  It also tells us we were created in God’s own image.  It informs us that God has a plan and design for the fabric of each of our lives and that He has a purpose for the vessel He wants to create us to be.  Do we really think we can do a better job than He can?  Why not yield, submit and surrender to the touch of the Master’s hands.

We need to be willing to say:  “Take my life and let is be, consecrated Lord, to Thee.” – Frances R. Havergal (lyrics from ‘Take My Life, and Let It Be’)  And we also should be willing to say to Him: “Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way! Thou are the potter, I am the clay: Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, Yielded and still.” – Adelade A. Pollard (lyrics from ‘Have Thine Own Way, Lord’)

Today’s Prayer

Father, when it comes to becoming something of worth and value: may I leave the creative process and the fine artistic elements to you.

“There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit, who brings a fire

Ignites a candle and makes His home.

Frustrated brother see how he’s tired to

light his own candle some other way.

See now your sister she’s been robbed and lied to

Still holds a candle without a flame.

So carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn.

Hold out your candle for all to see it,

Take your candle, go light your world.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Go Light Your World’ by Chris Rice