Daily Devotional

While in Bethlehem a shopkeeper gave me a small antique juglet. The Certificate of Authenticity pointed out this antiquity came from the Late Bronze Age, around the time King David reigned.

Such a simple vessel that most likely held valuable oil or expensive perfume. It was not as ornate as the alabaster jar Mary used to anoint Jesus (cf. Mark 14:3)—but it had a similar function.

Looking closely at this 3,200-year-old juglet, I easily recognized it was made of clay and was formed by a skilled potter who had a specific purpose in mind. Obviously, the clay had nothing to say about it. It came into the potter’s hands as wet and moldable dirt over which the  potter had complete control. The apostle Paul uses this point to drive home a lesson for those of us who question God’s unique purpose and plan for our lives:

Romans 9:20–21 - “On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?”

Once the juglet was completed, it was put to use. So it us with us:

2 Corinthians 4:7 - “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves…”
       
We are simple clay jars—lumps of clay—earthen vessels made into precious containers wafting with the perfume of the Gospel of Christ. For this we are so very grateful:

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 - “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”

How sweet it is! Thus, we declare with our fellow clay jars of every age:

Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

However, we also admit the lifelong struggle for clay pots striving to stay away from anything that defiles us as clean vessels:

2 Timothy 2:21–22 - “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

May the One who molded us keep us clean lumps of clay—set apart as precious vessels and useful for ages to come. Maybe 3200 years from now someone will look at the impact of our lives, smell the life-to-life fragrance and aroma of Christ, and marvel at how amazing our Potter is.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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