Message
In our Bible reading for today, a potter was trying to make a vessel, but it became marred in his hand, so he decided to make another. I preached a sermon over 30 years ago titled "Seeing the Invisible". I gave an illustration in the sermon using a log of wood. When you see a log of wood, you may not observe anything special, but a sculptor could look at it and visualise a lion. He would then take his hammer and chisel, chipping off a little here, a little there. Eventually, the head of the lion would appear. In the course of the sculptor's work, the wood could split open suddenly, in which case he could then say to it "Well, I wanted to make a lion out of you, but it looks like I would only be able to make a cat because you have cracked open in a way I did not intend". He would then get to work making the cat but, should he discover another flaw in the wood, he may then say, "Okay, I will make a rat out of you". If he discovers even more flaws in the wood, he may then be compelled to use it as firewood.
Song of Solomon 2:15 says:
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
The little flaws you ignore in yourself can destroy God's purpose for your life. If you fail to deal with these faults decisively, they will end up hindering God's plan for your life. You may have been told that you talk too much, yet are not doing anything about it. God may have warned you that you eat too much, yet you keep eating irresponsibly. Maybe someone has even told you that you get angry too easily but you claim that people from your tribe are usually like that. These things, little as they may seem, will make it hard for God to fulfil His purpose in your life.
The Potter is very good at His craft, but the clay has to allow the Potter's purpose to be fulfilled. Check yourself: between last year and now, have you grown? Have you dropped your bad habits? Have you picked up new habits that will help you fulfil God's purpose for your life? A new year is about to start; get rid of those little foxes that have been spoiling your vine. Don't be an obstacle to your progress and the fulfilment of God's plans in your life.