Amazing Grace That Saved A Wretch Like me

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²‘Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ ³So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. ⁴The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁶Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand,…(Jeremiah 18)

These verses from Jeremiah 18 could easily slip past our comprehension.  

Listen to what God says to Jeremiah:

⁶Can I not do with you,... just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand,…

Jeremiah is clay in the potter’s hand — a very personal message.  Until God moves,  all-to-quickly, to the behavior of all of Israel.  

Taking the personal out of the equation.

Jeremiah is going through a difficult time in his personal life.  Questioning himself and his purpose of being a messenger for God.

So God tells him to go to the potter’s house.

There Jeremiah finds a precious truth about this all-powerful and mighty God.  

He realizes that just as the potter can remold a spoiled pot, that has somehow been ruined,  God can remold us when our lives seem to be misshaped in some way.

I am thinking of those who have grown to think that they are not “good enough,” -- “adequate enough” --  to receive God’s attention -- acceptance.   Or have become convinced that God is not the loving God that Jesus claimed.

People in our world today go around believing that they don’t deserve God’s love and forgiveness.  They are convince that they are not decent enough to deserve God’s unconditionally amazing grace.  

The line in that favorite song says it best:

“Amazing grace how sweet the sound the saved a wretch like me!   I once was lost but now am found:  was blind but now I see.”

Maybe what God was trying to communicate to Jeremiah — and you and me — is that He is quite capable of removing our wretchedness.  

He is quite capable of reshaping us in His creative hands.

⁶Can I not do with you… just as this potter has done?

Not one person is excluded from this process.  

The only thing that might get in God’s way is our refusal.  And many times even  that doesn’t get in God’s way.