THE POTTER’S WATER

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING of WATER by the WORD – Ephesians 5:26

We are still meditating on Jeremiah 18, which describes how the Potter works with clay as a metaphor for God’s works with His people. Today, we ponder on the place of WATER in the dynamics of divine processing. If a potter attempts to create a vessel without sufficient water, the clay will crumble, collapse, or break apart. As the clay turns on the wheel the potter wets it with water to make it supple, and soon his hands would coax the shapeless lump into a practical and functional vessel.

Symbolically and substantially, water is central to our Christian faith and experience. John baptized with water unto repentance. At the inception of His ministry, Jesus was baptized by John in the waters of River Jordan (Mt.3:11, 16). His first recorded miracle was transforming water into wine (Jh.2:7-9). Entry into God’s kingdom through the New Birth is described as being “born of water and of the Spirit” (Jh.3:5). 1 Peter 3:20 refers to Noah and his family as being “saved by water.” The Lord introduced Himself to the Samarian woman as the Giver of “living water” which whoever drinks “shall never thirst” (Jh.4:10-14). He further affirms: “He who believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” – referring to the Holy Spirit (Jh.7:38-39). Over the ages, the Church has practised baptism by immersion in water as a fundamental Christian ordinance (Acts 8:36-39; 10:47).

Water is one of God’s three witnesses in earth, along with the Spirit and the blood (1Jh.5:8). In the New Testament, water represents the Word of God and His Spirit. Christ’s relationship with His Church is summarized thus: “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of WATER by the WORD” (Eph.5:26). Jesus prayed for His Church: “Sanctify them through Your truth; Your WORD is truth” (Jh.17:17). Titus 3:5 confirms: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the WASHING of REGENERATION, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” There is also an eternal dimension to water: “And He shewed me a pure river of WATER of LIFE, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev.22:1).

Just as water must be lavished on the clay during the pottery process, God’s Word and Spirit must be abundant in your life. The “clay-nature” in you must be continually submerged in the Water of His Word and saturated with the Living Water of the Spirit, to enable the Potter’s creative hand mold and process you into perfection – into the best He ordained you to become. Ultimately, the most honourable vessel is not necessarily the shiniest or most colourful, but that which would hold and serve water perpetually; which gives “Living Water” freely from the heart; which shares so that others may drink of God’s Love.