THE POTTER’S PROCESS: HIS INSTRUMENTS

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us – 2 Corinthians 4: 7

The Potters’ Process includes not only the Ingredients, but also the Implements. The potter uses certain implements to transform the clay into its useful state. The following four key instruments have important connotations for us:

1. The Shovel: is used to dig the clay from the earth. This may connote the Spirit of God who in convicting power, draws us to the Lord Jesus, like He did to Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:5). When the Potter is digging around a life, He is calling such a person to draw near to Him. You can never regret accepting the shovelling process of the Almighty!
2. The Mallet: After cleansing and processing the raw clay, it is placed on a table and beaten with a wooden mallet to remove any air bubbles that might be trapped in it, which could produce pockets, weak spots and a fragile and unusable vessel. The pounding trials of time make us more pliable in the Potter’s hand, in order for Him to shape us into His image: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:17 NKJV).
3. The Wheels: As the potter, with his feet, spins a large, lower wheel mounted upon an upright shaft, a smaller upper wheel – where the clay is placed – is turned. As the clay of our lives turns, the Potter shapes us as He wills. These symbolize the circumstances and cycles of life. It is significant to note that: the Potter controls the speed of the wheels; and they only rotate according to His will. God is still in control, regardless of what you are facing. He’ll ensure that all things work ultimately together for your good (Rom.8:28).
4. The Potter’s Hands: are never out of contact with the clay while it spins around on the wheels, or else it would spin out of control and be lost. Our eternal Potter is never remote or removed. He remains there until the clay becomes what He desires it to be: “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5b). No matter how fast the wheels spin, the Potter is always in touch with His clay!