roundabout
God "tried again." —Jeremiah 18:4
In business, a common saying is: "Why is there never time to do the job right the first time, but always time to do it over again?" Have you ever worked hard at a project, only to have a co-worker spoil the end result through carelessness or sabotage? Now you must "try again" through no fault of your own.
Can you remember a situation of which you could say: "I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength" (Is 49:4)? Hold that situation in memory. Now picture the Lord at the potter's wheel (Jer 18:3ff), trying over and over again to mold you into His disciple. Whenever you rebel, He patiently picks out your hardened parts, discards what is useless in your life (Mt 13:48), and gently tries again. With infinite patience and skillful care, He continues to work at forming you according to His pleasure (Jer 18:4).
God the Potter won't stop working on you. He doesn't get frustrated; rather, He'll keep trying again and again. "It is hard for you to" fight against Him (see Acts 26:14). Repent! Stop going around in circles with the Lord. Surrender every part of your life to God. Let Him lovingly caress you with His gentle hands and make a masterpiece of your life.
Prayer: Father Potter, by my negligence and rebellion, I've wasted enough of Your time and mine (1 Pt 4:3). Mold me as You wish.
Promise: "Every scribe who is learned in the reign of God is like the head of a household who can bring from his storeroom both the new and the old." —Mt 13:52
Praise: Never giving up on anyone, God led Robert back to Himself when Robert was in his nineties.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 26, 2006
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