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: St. Peter was called “golden word” (Chrysologus). About 180 of his writings have been preserved—a great blessing to the Church. He famously said, “He who amuses himself with Satan cannot rejoice with Christ!”
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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