We read on Sunday from Jeremiah 18 that God does not just reserve the right to intervene when he chooses, but that he is in total and complete control over all creation at all times. He is good and glorious, and the reverence that we owe him is not what an mere earthly tyrant demands. If we were not so blinded by sin and depraved in heart, mankind would find him irresistibly delightful. It is for our good that he reveals himself to us as Sovereign Lord.
Saturday night I finished reading a book by Philip Ryken called Courage to Stand (P&R, 2009). It is a walk through Jeremiah, and there are two passages from it that came to my mind when Pastor Scott preached on God the Potter. The first is a warning about the Potter, and the second is the comfort found in the Potter.
Jeremiah's message is about judgment. The picture of the pot on the potter's wheel is not meant to be comforting. Like much modern art, it is meant to be disturbing. Jeremiah's message is about clay in the hands of an agry Potter. If God can do whatever he wants, then he has the right to destroy you for your sins. God is the one who brought you into this world, and he can take you out of it. Until you recognize this, you have not fully reckoned with the sovereignty of God. (p. 101)God's sovereignty cannot be treated lightly. Are you willing to submit to his complete control? Do you trust him to do his work well?
"No one has ever been able to make a clay pot that is just a clay pot. Every pot is also an art form. Pottery is always changing its shape as potters find new proportions, different ways to shape the pot in pleasing combinations of curves. There is no pottery that besides being useful does not also show evidence of beauty.... It is one of the most functional items in life; it is also one of the most beautiful." It takes a patient artist to make a pot that is beautiful as well as useful. It takes the kind of potter Jeremiah watched, one who refuses to give up on his work. When there was a flaw in the clay, he did not throw it away; he worked it into something else. (p. 107)
This question is rhetorical: who has the better point of view when looking at your life--you or God? Who therefore, of the two of you, is the only one qualified to direct your path?
5 comments:
This week's reminder was perfectly timed, like everything God does.
Yesterday, I found out that I am teaching junior year American Literature from 1900- today with three completely new teaching partners. I was shocked and felt like my professional world had turned on its head. I wanted to cry: no more freshmen, no more teaching Genesis 1-3, no more world cultures, myths or epics, no more comfortable-four-years-of-rapport teaching partner. Now I will teach 16-17 year olds about the depressing evils of the 20th Century.
That's when it hit me: at no time is God's sovereignty more important to focus on as when life is decidedly not going my way. Which made me think, God is at work in this. HE, not some supervisor, ordained that I would deal with this depresssing literature. Which made me me think, this literature is an opportunity to show the kids the difference between how people react to evil, how faith either provides strength, answers and assurance or fails and falls apart, depending on who/what one has faith in.
God is sovereign, not only in what classes I am assigned, but over the horrors of wars. THAT is what I'm going to strive to remember and teach this school year.
Right on, Leah! You're living it! I'll be praying for you as you work on your new lesson plans!
Thanks Leah for sharing! Scott's message was also timely in my life--as I was prepared (in many different ways) for hearing about God's Sovereignty.
I have known that God is Sovereign…that He is in control of everything. I KNOW that I need to be content and even joyful in everything that happens in my life...because it is GOD’S plan, but down deep (in the place where you ask the honest questions) I don't think my heart has truly been in agreement with my brain. My behavior has indicated otherwise.
As far as I can tell, I’m not angry at the particular people in my life or the situations that frustrate me…instead, it seems that I am actually angry at God because (for completely ridiculous reasons) I am dissatisfied with what He has brought about in my life.
So, I have been learning that believing in the Sovereignty of God is one thing, but trusting that it is the best thing for my life is different and entirely necessary for authentic belief in an all powerful/sovereign God.
My favorite quote from Jenn: "If we were not so blinded by sin and depraved in heart, mankind would find him irresistibly delightful."
The more I am delighted by Him...the more His Sovereign plan seems of utmost importance and my plan seems small and insignificant. Obviously, my eyes have focusing on the small things way too much!
I am curious to know how others have interacted with the knowledge of God's Sovereignty?? What's your story??
Becky, I feel like you read my mind. I know truth about God's sovereignty that doesn't always seem to reach my behavior.
I know for myself, I find it relatively easy to trust God's sovereignty in the "big things." I want him to be sovereign over the big things. It's in the daily mundane that I have a hard time surrendering to his rule, or even remembering his rule. I default to taking life as it comes without stopping to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks for all things.
I also know that a lot of the time I am discontent because I am trying to force myself to be happy with his rule instead of humbling myself and asking him to MAKE me happy.
"this literature is an opportunity to show the kids the difference between how people react to evil, how faith either provides strength, answers and assurance or fails and falls apart, depending on who/what one has faith in."
A profound statement, Leah. It would appear as though God has been sovereign in showing you it was his plan to give you this lit. period to teach on, and also in showing you what to say about it!
As for your comments, Becky & Jenn, I sadly have to agree with the "I know truth about God's sovereignty that doesn't always seem to reach my behavior" statement. I think mostly I don't even HAVE an interaction with God's sovereignty, which maybe means that I take it for granted. Sounds like I need to put my own comments from last Friday's post to practice...
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