Hi
Have you ever tried throwing a pot / making play do (plasticine) tools; only to have the clay warp in front of you? The temptation may arise to discard the lump of clay; but today’s Holy Nougat offers a lesson for life along with a practical approach to working with the clay.
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. Jeremiah 18:4 NIV
Sometimes instead of molding as the potter intended, the clay seems to take on a life of its own. At that moment, no matter how much of a masterpiece it showed the potential of becoming; it must be removed from the mold and reshaped. In some instances it gets smoothed over, expanded, shrunk. Rarely is any material totally removed, the obstruction being remolded into the new piece. And, when shaped to satisfaction – is set by being fired up!
And so it is with us. We sin, falling out of the ‘mold’ crafted for our existence by the Master Potter. And in that moment, no matter how famous we may be, God reworks us, with a limp, exposure or the internal strength of surpassing that which had the power and intent (but thank God, not the authority) to totally destroy us. And sometimes, having regained what we may have lost; we are fired up in the crucibles of God’s Purpose.
This does not mean that we embrace sin and sinfulness; accepting it as fait accompli. But, perhaps it may provoke a certain degree of empathy for those leaders who are caught in sinful acts. Especially when we acknowledge that could easily be you or me. Yes! We hold them accountable, allow the justice system to prevail; but in the interim we (continue to) pray them into all God has repurposed them to be.
Responsibility for sin lies squarely upon the one who has (willfully) sinned; but corporate responsibility – in terms of covering our leaders in prayer – extends to us.
How willingly; regularly do we pray for our leaders? Perhaps our prayer maybe the difference in overcoming or yielding to temptation.
In Christ’s love and grace
