Personal Potter

PERSONL POTTER

Isaiah 64:8

“Yet, O Lord, You are our Father.  We are the clay, You are the potter.”

            “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you My message.” God directed Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 18:1.  God called Jeremiah to be a prophet for the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Times were going to be tough.  It was about five hundred years before Jesus was born.

            At the potter’s house, Jeremiah watched him working at the wheel.  “That looks weird,” Jeremiah commented.

            The potter smiled, reworking the creation he was forming.  “It got lopsided.” the potter admitted as he reshaped the pot.  Jeremiah watched a new pot emerge in front of his eyes.  (Jeremiah 18:3-4).

            God whispered to Jeremiah, “O House of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?”  Jeremiah nodded his head at the invisible voice, saying nothing to the potter.  “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah heard.

            “If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I planned.”  (Jeremiah 18:7-8).  Jeremiah heard this and breathed out a whew!  The potter began a new pot after collapsing the old one.

            “And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in My sight and does not obey Me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended for it.”  (Jeremiah 18:9-10).  Jeremiah nodded his head at the invisible voice.  He understood God’s message.

            Judah was in big trouble!  (See lesson linked below to see why).

            Jeremiah understood that God was planning a disaster for Judah and Jerusalem.  (Jeremiah 18:11).  Would you have liked to have had Jeremiah’s job?  It was his job to give tell the people—and try to get them to repent and turn from their evil ways.  Jeremiah 19:10 says, “I will smash the nation and this city just as the potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired.” 

            “Yikes!” Jeremiah gasped as the potter’s pot splat to the floor.                   

            The potter said, “That’s okay, I’ll make another.”   

Take Home Nugget 

            People are to God as clay is in the potter’s hands.  God has all power over every life, just like the potter has all power over his creation.  He tirelessly and patiently refashions us into people that resemble Christ.  Then He pours puts His Spirit inside vessels who accept Jesus as Lord.   Perfect!  Saints wholly committed to Him.  True works of beauty!

This is what it means to be “putty in another’s hands.”

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Personal Potter

Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Most Important

MOST IMPORTANT

Luke 11:1-4

Luke 11:1:  “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.  When He finished, one of the disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’”

 

            If prayer is the most important thing, why did it take so long for Jesus to teach His disciples to pray?  God never intrudes on people.  He waits to be invited.  Jesus’ disciples knew that He stole away from everything so that He could pray.  He jealously guarded this precious alone time with the Father. 

            Why is prayer such a big deal?

            Prayer is our relationship with the Lord.   Prayer is a time of separation from everything in order to spend time in His presence.  We surrender our schedules and priorities to joyfully approach God’s throne room.  This is a time when we share our love for Him—and experience His love for us in return.

            For children of the King, prayer is communication.  We acknowledge: God’s supremacy, Jesus as Lord of our lives and our dependency on the Holy Spirit’s leading. Prayer nourishes souls so to strengthen us.  We offer up needs and desires to Him—even admitting our mistakes.  We wait for Him to respond during quiet prayer time.  This is when we bask in the presence of God our Father and Jesus our Savior.  Heavenly conversation is guided by the Holy Spirit. 

            Jesus’ life shows the value of private prayer time.  His frequent withdrawing from the world to specifically spend alone time with the Father clues us to its importance.  From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus’ public life was chaotic.  He was hounded by crowds wherever He went.   His life wasn’t His own, everyone wanted a piece of Jesus.  Pursued by those seeking healing, persecuted by those seeking a mistake, Jesus was under a microscope. 

            If you were ever the new kid in class after moving, you know exactly how Jesus must have felt.  He was watched constantly.  He was chased, harassed and pestered. Jesus had a lot to prove, and everyone wanted proof (or a show of miracles).

            Only one person understood exactly what to do with Jesus.  Her name was Mary.  

            Luke 10:39 begins with Martha: “She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.”  Jesus acknowledged when Martha wanted Him to tell Mary to help her in Luke 10:42: “but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

            Mary got it.  Jesus is here right now!  Listen to Him. Learn from Him.  Bask in His presence. 

            John 12:3 says, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

            After Judas mocked her waste, Jesus said, “Leave her alone…it was intended, that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial.”

Take Home Nugget 

            How is your prayer life?  How often to you enter the father’s throne room just because you want to bask in His presence, like Mary?  Will you commit to a prayer life with God as your top priority and focus? 

With so many moments in one day, where’re the moments reserved for our Lord?

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Most Important

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Mental Grid

MENTAL GRID

Psalm 25, 2,5,9, and 119:97-104

Psalm 25:9:  “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.”

             

            Eight your old Shakira came home from the swimming pool to find her dad sitting quietly on the porch.  “What’s happening, Daddy, why are you home before dinnertime?”

            “Hi Baby.” Her dad replied.  “I’m chatting with God.”

            “About what?” Shakira wondered.

            “My company downsized again.  This time I got caught in the layoffs.  So I’m asking God what’s my next step.  I need to provide for my family.”

            “Oh,” Shakira said softly.  She piled up on his lap and threw her arms around his neck.  “I’ll pray too, Daddy,” kissing him on the jaw.

            Shakira’s dad is not totally clueless on how he’ll proceed, though.  He’s been reading his Bible every day since he was young.  He has a great relationship with God.  He chats with God throughout every day.  Today, as he gathered up his personal stuff from work before leaving early, he walked out to his car for the last time.  And he was smiling.

              Shakira’s dad shows us all how to live.  By reading the Bible daily, he knows who God is, what He wants for His kids, and things He certainly wouldn’t approve.  By now, Shakira’s dad has a firm mental grid in place.  This grid sifts information for him.  Instead of “going with his gut feeling,” he judges whether new information is something he’ll accept, or what he will reject.  It’s all about what pleases God.  Sifting wants through the grid also forms habits that allow him to live successfully.

            For instance, Shakira’s dad is unhappy with a job that was offered to him on his way home.  A power company wants him to read people’s meters that measure how much electricity they use.  They want meter readers to add 10% to the reading each month.

            “You’re robbing people.” Shakira’s dad informed the recruiter.  

            “Not exactly,” was the reply.  “Ten percent covers our expense to go to people’s homes rain or shine, deal with nosy neighbors and biting dogs.  It’s fair compensation.” 

Take Home Nugget 

            Shakira’s dad knew that the power company was padding bills with an unnecessary 10% every month.  He knows that the devil daily tries sneaking evil through his mental grid.  So today, he refused the meter-reading job because adding 10% was sinful behavior.  He is content to wait for God to bring him a job that is a perfect fit for him.  He was confident that it will come in God’s perfect timing. 

God’s will is for all His kids to live truthfully.  He wants us to live with a clean and pure conscience.   

Having a firm mental grid in place ends relying on unreliable gut feelings.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Mental Grid

Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Reality Check

REALITY CHECK

Psalm 103:6-18

Psalm 103:9-11:  “He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”  

 

            “That was a great pass!” Ten hear old Brad complimented his classmate Jeremy as they threw a football around.  “Your spiral is getting tighter every day.” 

            “Thanks, Brad.” Jeremy said.  “Michael’s been helping me….But I still have a long ways to go.”

             Michael is Jeremy’s older brother.  He’d be the first one to say that Jeremy isn’t ready to turn pro…(yet).  Jeremy totally agrees.  

             But too often people actually believe they’re that awesome after receiving a compliment!  Their head puffs up with imagined greatness.  This diminishes their sense of indebtedness to God:  cheapening the price He paid (Jesus’ death) to rescue us, BECAUSE…   

            No one is innocent of sin!  Just ask someone, “Are you a sinner?”  The likely response would be a comparison: “Well, I never killed anybody!”  But have they ever criticized another person?  Have they ever put someone down in front of others?  That is like killing another’s worth, their value as a human being—who is made in God’s image.  Making fun of a person kills the spirit.  The face droops.  He feels awful.

            The opening Scripture says that God does not treat us as our sins deserve—the wages of sin is death! (Romans 6:23).

            People usually don’t’ take criticism well because it hurts their feelings.  But let’s get real.  No one is perfect.  Thinking of ourselves higher than we should is dangerous.  There will always be somebody who is more athletic, smarter or better looking.

            Are you guilty of any of these?

            Later, Brad pointed to a chubby guy.  “Jeremy, how much do you think he weighs?  Ha-ha!” 

            Do you judge others?   Did you know that Matthew 7:1 says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  Check out the lesson linked below to see how to get God’s benefits—His love, His grace—instead of the wrath you really deserve for all your sins!

            Maybe we should perform a reality check on ourselves every now and then.

Take Home Nugget 

             Considering that we’re to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16), if God never did anything more than “just” redeem us, He has already done far more than we deserve!   

Holy Father, thank You for not dealing with me according to what my sins deserve!  Thank You, Jesus, for purchasing my pardon and forgiveness on the cross!  I owe You for what I can never repay, Your love and grace—far beyond what I deserve!  Amen. 

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Reality Check

 

Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Testing Ground

TESTING GROUND

Genesis 2:15-17

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat of any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’” 

           

            Planet earth is testing ground for humans.  When children may not touch certain things, what do they usually do?  Why do humans want what they can’t have?  In the Garden of Eden, God pointed out only one tree from which Adam may not eat.  God allows people to choose how to respond to commands.

            Eve never wanted the fruit from the forbidden tree…until Satan lied, “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5b).

            That was not the first sin.  Do you want to know what really happened?   Isaiah 14 is about the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28).  He was the king of Babylon, and a contemporary of Jesus.  But the story fits Satan.  Proud.  Arrogant.  Thinking that “he’s all that!” 

            “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!  You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the munt of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.’

            “‘I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’   But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-14).   The Hebrew word for morning star is Lucifer, literally “light bearer.”  Proud Satan brought sin to earth when, like Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:18, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.”

            God does not share His glory.  “For My own sake I do this.  How can I let Myself be defamed?  I will not yield My glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:11).  People are born into sin.  Only by becoming new creations when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior can we attain righteousness through Him (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21).

            See God addressing the king of Tyre, the devil’s sin and end in the lesson linked below. 

Take Home Nugget 

            Because the Lord wants people to love Him—instead of being programmed robots—He gives people choice.  Even when you sin, God will turn it out for good (Romans 8:28).  What’s your grade on earth’s testing ground?                   

Thank You, Holy Father, for giving me the right to choose.  I choose to love and obey You!

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Testing Ground

Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Jesus Disciples You

JESUS DISCIPLES YOU

JOHN 10

John 10:27:  “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

 

 

             I am offended at criticism when doing something new.  If I knew how to do it, I would not be doing it wrong!  “Show me!  Lead me!” I want to scream.

            Jesus understands.  Jesus leads.  Jesus says, “Come, follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19 and 21).  Believers of Christ—whether or not we admit the fact—are His disciples.  Disciple means follower, believer, supporter or student.  John, chapter ten, shows how lovingly Jesus leads His followers.

            The image of shepherd and sheep are perfect metaphors [MET-a-fors] for Jesus and His followers.  Metaphor is a figure of speech.  These words represent or are symbols for the real thing.  Jesus as shepherd stands for Jesus the Savior.  Followers of Jesus, believers, as sheep stand for precious and dearly-loved people

            It’s okay to be called a sheep.  After all, Jesus is called the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29).  Jesus was born so that He could die.  (For us).  He was the perfect sacrifice so that believers’ sins could be forgiven.  Jesus’ death wins believers adoption into God’s family and eternal life in heaven. 

            Jesus calls you to come and follow Him as His disciple.  “The sheep listen to His voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and He leads them out.  When He has called out His own, He goes ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.”  (John 10:3-4).  Great!  Jesus shows me how to follow Him.

            “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture.   The thief comes in only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  (John 10:9-10).  His disciples find pasture (rest).  He gives us life to the full (lacking nothing). 

 

            The thief Jesus refers to can be anything that steals you away from Him.  The prince of this world is the devil (John 12:31).  He uses all his power to tempt you away from following Jesus.  He wants to steal your heart.  He wants your death, your destruction.  But whoever loves Jesus will “run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”  (John 10:5b).    

Take Home Nugget 

            “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…
I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.”  (John 10:11, 14).  Jesus died for you.  He calls you by name.  You know Jesus. 

Will you follow Jesus?  

I want what Jesus offers

And I will follow Him.

The devil has lots in his coffers,

But his winning me is slim!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, AMERICA!

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Jesus Disciples You

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Condition Vs. Position

CONDITION VS. POSITION

JOHN 15

Jon 15:5:  “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

            Jesus shows believers our position in the opening Scripture.  The lesson linked below shows clearly how precious believers are to God, both as branches and those He glorifies!  So when we find ourselves in a jam, let us remember whose we are.  Our hardship will be resolved.  We will never lose our position in Christ. 

            That’s the point of this “Condition Vs. Position” devotion.  Regardless of our situation, we remain forever positioned in the heavenly realms with Christ (Ephesians 2:6).  Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches.  He doesn’t say we’re to try to be the branches.  We already are His.

            As branches, we only need to abide (rest in or remain) in Christ.  How do we abide in Jesus?  We can remember every day whose we are.  God accepts whoever believes in Jesus as Lord.   Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “For He chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance of His pleasure and will.”

            Ten your old Jeremy was surrounded by twelve year old bullies at the swimming pool.  “So you like football, do you?” one asked.  They “ushered him” to the parking lot.  “Run with this football to the end of the parking lot.”  As Jeremy began running, one after another tackled him.

            The older kids abandoned Jeremy bleeding on the black top and baking in the bright sunshine.  His friend Brad found him, and wondered, “What did you do to make them do this?”

            “I don’t know.” Jeremy said.  “Maybe they don’t want me to play football in middle school.”

            “Well, let’s get you into the pool so the chlorine water can clean you up.” Brad suggested. 

            “That will sting like crazy!” Jeremy complained. 

            “Yeah,” Brad agreed, “But that’ll be better than you getting infections from all these scrapes!”

Take Home Nugget 

            The devil wants us to see ourselves like Jeremy, all bruised and bloody.  He wants God’s kids to focus on our condition instead of our position.  That way, we won’t be effective branches bearing fruit for God’s kingdom.  He wants you to forget that you are an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17).

            The devil wants us to forget that we have power through prayer to correct our condition.  God restores confidence in our position—holy, blameless and dearly beloved.  No condition can trump your position in Christ.

Never believe your condition endangers your position!

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for ConditionV s. Position

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