Let Jesus Become The Master Potter In Your Life

A friend of mine named Miguel is a famous potter. This bearded Latino has one of his pots displayed in the Smithsonian. 

One day I watched him throw a brand new pot out of muddy red clay. He took a huge piece of the clay, massaged it with skillful hands, added water to it and plopped it down on the potter’s wheel. At first the clay was tough and unyielding. But as he continued to knead it with his strong yet gentle hands, the clay became more supple. 

Clay Pot

I could see that Miguel loved the pot he was forming. He whistled while he worked, and he smiled as the clay responded to him.

When he was about an hour into his work on this particular pot, I began to notice that while it had taken shape nicely, there were still many imperfections on its sides—lumps and jagged edges. These bothered me, but didn’t disturb Miguel.  He kept whistling and smiling. 

Suddenly, with a movement so deft I hardly saw it, he cut off the lumps and smoothed the ridges. He looked up at me, sweat pouring from his forehead, and announced with joy: “Done!” He set it aside for baking in the kiln that night.

A few days later he gave me that pot. He had decorated it with golden highlights to accentuate its maroon color. Tears welled up in my eyes. I marveled at how Miguel had crafted something so beautiful out of mud. 

Miguel’s pot reminds me of how God does the work of patiently sculpting our personalities. Our part is to remain supple and yielding so that God can transform our whole being—conscious and unconscious—into a unique and eternal expression of Christ.

Transformed by Grace

Personality transformation occurs through grace, a kind of effortless effort, not by striving to please God or obey all the rules. Jesus, the Master Potter, said it this way:

“Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Mt 11:28-30 The Message).

Jesus Christ's Love and Grace

How is it possible that God's love can heal our fear, defensiveness and pride? It happens because the growing Christian learns to live in an atmosphere of inspiration rather than condemnation. Jesus' love and the power of the Holy Spirit work to transform personality.

As we actively trust the Lord for support and growth in every aspect of being, he will heal our fears and personality rigidities. We never arrive at complete perfection this side of heaven. 

Our testimony isn’t that we are perfect, 

but that we have met the Redeemer.

Christ died for our mistakes and shortcomings, so with Christ dwelling within, we need not live in bondage to fear. As John says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18).” We remain imperfect, but God’s perfect love now lives within us and slowly transforms us.

For more, read:

GOD AND YOUR PERSONALITY 

God and Your Personality