Pleasing Pottery

Jesus came to set us free. As we walk by the light of truth and turn to Him, we are like clay reshaped in His likeness.

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king…He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left…Have them…work on the temple…repair the temple of the Lord…I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord…When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes…This is what the Lord says…Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn…Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself…and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you” 2 Kings 22:1-19

What would you think about an 8-year-old serving as president of the United States? We might have some funny laws like required ice cream socials, summer breaks for all skilled workers, or recess as part of our daily routines. Josiah became king at 8 and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. In doing so, he challenged our natural tendency to label people. What would happen if we focused more on loving than labeling the people we meet? How would that change how we treat each other?

We all label. We stereotype. We judge. We categorize and rank sin in order to justify ourselves. We all fall short of the goodness and glory of God. Our world encourages social classes and separation. Jesus had a very different approach. He lived to do the Father’s will, and to everyone’s surprise, His will is not legalism but love. He wants to lead people to a life of freedom, not label and leave them behind. Will we embrace Jesus’ example, or will we continue on the path of cancel culture?

Josiah repaired the temple and, in doing so, found the Book of the Law. It says a lot that the law had been lost, but God has a way of bringing people back who are willing to turn. Josiah’s response to the law was humility and repentance. No one had to tell him that he had not upheld God’s standards, and no one has to tell us. We all know in our hearts where we have fallen short. The key to finding healing is humility, honesty, and hearing God call us back to Him.

“Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord…Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them…They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.” Psalms 35:1-28

Jesus came for the lost, the hurting, and the broken. Consider this song in light of the times when you are in a tough spot and need help. Consider how this song lands on your heart when you are the one who has sinned but need someone to stand up for you. Truth tells us we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and the truth sets us free.

Life can get busy and comfortable. It can cause us to forget how great our daily need for Jesus is. Hard hearts and judgment come from hearts that have forgotten the forgiveness they have received. Offense is only allowed into our hearts when we overlook the grace that God has given us.

Pause and sing the lyrics of Amazing Grace to yourself. Can you remember how sweet the sound was that saved you when you felt like a wretch? How precious did grace appear the hour you first believed? Did you have any bitterness in your heart toward another brother in that moment?

David called out to God in his time of need. He sang that he loved his enemies even when they had wronged him. He put on sackcloth and mourned for them like a brother. Josiah put on sackcloth for his own sin and for the sin of the people. Is your heart to intercede on behalf of other sinners? What would happen if, instead of cursing people when they harm us, we prayed blessings over them? Would that not be more like Jesus?

“Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed…Evildoers are snared by their own sin…The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. Discipline your children, and they will give you peace…blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Servants cannot be corrected by mere words…An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:1-25

Solomon liked to contrast the wise and the fool, but what if our lens was whether our actions were like Jesus or not like Jesus? One could say it is the same, but maybe it could help us love more like He does. Think of the contrasts.

Jesus calls us to be humble, sets us free from sin, said we serve Him when we serve the poor, made disciples, was patient while persecuted, and trusted in God to the point of death on the cross. He did not put up with the stubborn Pharisees, approve of sin, stir up conflict, abuse His authority or use it for personal gain, nor fear the enemy or the threats of mankind. Are we living like Jesus? If we are prideful, offended in any way, causing conflict or gossiping, labeling instead of loving, or hard-hearted toward anyone, then we might need a reality check as to whether we are really following Him.

“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”Jeremiah 18:2-6

How do you see yourself? How does God see you? What would happen if we looked at life as though we were clay in the hands of the Heavenly Creator, the Perfect Potter, made in His image and being conformed to the likeness of Christ? Is it possible that God uses every event, every action, every encounter, every day, to shape and reshape us?

Jesus wants us to change the way we think about ourselves and about others. Imagine what would happen and the peace that could come to our world if we looked at each person as a child made by the hand of the living God. What would happen if we made space and trusted that God is always working and molding each person? Could we let go of fear, anger, offense, bitterness, pride, and all the labels? What if, with each person we saw, we thought to ourselves that this person is loved by God and made for His purposes? Would we treat them differently than we have?

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery…Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? …he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there…Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin….I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed…I have not come on my own; God sent me. You belong to your father, the devil…He was a murderer from the beginning…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.” John 8:3-47

Imagine for a moment what it must have been like for that woman. She was dead. There was no way out. Imagine how her life must have flashed before her eyes and the weight of regret for how foolish her decision to be unfaithful would have been. She must have asked, Why did I do this? She must have cried for mercy. But she was nameless and unseen, worthless in the eyes of her accusers, yet loved by Jesus. Not because of what she had done or not done, but because He saw her as a daughter, not by her devilish deeds. How do you see her?

Do not miss the magnitude of the moment, for we too all deserve the death penalty. We are her, and she is us. Like the Israelites in Josiah’s time, we all have sinned against God and been unfaithful to our Heavenly Father. What kind of God does not condemn or cast stones but has compassion on a woman who was caught in an unfaithful act? What kind of God contends for us by dying on a cross to pay the price of our sins? Only Jesus. To say we are Christians is to say we are sinners who have been saved from death and now have hearts devoted to Jesus. We were freed to follow. We were freed to free others from the oppression of the enemy and the sin that enslaves. Will we be stone throwers or lifesavers?

Just like Josiah, who repaired the temple, Jesus came to make our hearts His temple through the Holy Spirit. The woman’s body may have been used for evil, but Jesus wanted to restore her body so it could be a place of God’s presence. David put on sackcloth for his enemies rather than surrendering to the sin of judgment. Solomon said to be a peacemaker, not a person who stirs up conflict. Jeremiah shared the truth that until we are done breathing, God is not done molding us.

Everywhere we look, God is revealing His desire not merely to stop sin but to restore people. We see broken, but He sees beautiful because He knows what we can become in Christ. When we truly understand the grace we have received, it becomes impossible to look down on others. The cross removes every reason for pride and reminds us we all need mercy. Jesus did not excuse sin, but His focus was on making sure sinners knew they were loved.

You are held in the Potter’s hands. Like Josiah, humble your heart. Let Him search you, repair any imperfections, and fill you with His presence. Then walk in the light as He is in the light, set free by the Son. Loved people love people. Forgiven people forgive. Ask for eyes to see every person as Jesus does, and ask Him for a heart to love them in the way they need to be loved, wherever they are.