Day 55 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day fifty-five of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 55 Readings: Jeremiah 10:14-23:8

I was in Denver at a Youth Specialties youth workers' conference. One of the speakers was talking about us being clay in the potter's hands (much like Jeremiah 18). I remember vividly listening to him talk as he spun pottery on a wheel. At one point one of the pots became off center and unbalanced. He threw it aside as useless. It made a vivid point about how God might or might not be able to work in and through our lives. I like the image in Jeremiah better in which the "marred" pot was reshaped and repurposed. God doesn't cast us aside recklessly but longs and desires to shape and reshape us into a healthy and helpful vessel.

Our appointed text for today has much to say about people worshipping God in form or with lips but not with heart. God will not be fooled. God is not to be trifled with. The people have grieved God deeply and harsh punishments are coming. It is hard to get past Jeremiah 15:2 inviting those destined for death, the sword, starvation or captivity to follow their destinies. God says these people won't be spared even if Moses and Samuel were to make intercessory gestures--much less Jeremiah. God promises that some will come back but in the mean time things look grim indeed.

In the midst of the bad news God promises in chapter 23 that a righteous branch is coming. He will be a King in the line of David who will reign wisely and do what is just. He will bring salvation. He will be called "the Lord our Righteousness" aka Jesus. May we trust deeply in the "good news" aka "gospel" of Jesus and allow ourselves to be shaped by the master potter in healthy and helpful vessels.


God, help us learn from those who aren't so very different from us. Help us not trifle with you but trust you and deeply abide in you. Have your way with us, your clay, Potter. Amen.