Either Way We Are Clay

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." I'm intrigued by the theme of clay in the Bible. I know that by most translations, it says that God formed Adam from the dust of the ground. I think it makes more sense that God formed Adam from clay. The New Testament often refers to believers as vessels made of clay as in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 " But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Jeremiah Chapter 18 depicts God as a Potter. "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. Romans 12:1-2 quoted above speak of either being conformed or transformed. The way I see it is either way we are clay. Clay can be squished into a mold and will take on the shape of the mold. We are told in these verses not to conform to the pattern of the world, but if we are not actively seeking to be transformed that is just what will happen. God calls His people to holiness. It is so easy to let little compromises into our lives that begin to erode our faith and witness. We need to be those who study God's word and obey it. We need to seek Him in prayer and listen when He convicts us of sin. I'm finding in my own life that much of what I may have seen as harmless entertainment, etc. really pulls me away from true commitment to God. God loves us so much and has made the way for us to be saved from our sins by the death and resurrection of His Son. In view of that great mercy, let us allow Him to transform us as the potter transforms the clay.