We do ourselves a disservice when we make Christianity about ourselves instead of the glory of God. Today is a mirror mirror moment to give us a clearer picture of God and ourselves when we consider how He is the Potter and we are the clay. This episode has me eating some humble pie.

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God is God

We do ourselves a disservice when we make Christianity about ourselves instead of the glory of God. Because when Christianity is centered around me – then when trials come, when doubts creep in, when the world is tempting, that’s when apostasy happens – that’s when people leave the church, turn from God, and lose hope.

But God’s glory is central to Christianity. and I’m going to read a passage to help us see with clarity more of who God is and who we are.

Romans 9:18-24

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Part 1: The Attitude and the Adjustment: If God does what He wants, why does He find fault?

Paul’s answer? Who are you Oh Man to answer back to God.

This leads to a awe and trembling and a right view of God and man.

• It builds our trust in God and His mercy – that it is not dependent on me being good enough or doing enough good or having it all together or knowing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing all the time.

• It also humbles our hearts. It is in our flesh to elevate ourselves, our plans, our purpose, our dreams, the order of our days to revolve around ourselves. But this little verse is the perfect gift to us when we get self-focused, when we forget that we were created for God and to give Him glory. We remember – who are you oh man to answer back to God.

Job 9:12

Daniel 4

2 Chronicles 20

Job 42

Part 2: The Potter & the Clay – A lesson to teach us more about God and ourselves.

Three characteristics of clay:

1. Clay can’t talk

2. Clay doesn’t have opinions

3. Clay doesn’t have rights.

We need to separate the human to human here. This is God who created all things. No one was there in the beginning. He was not taking opinions and He still does not take people’s opinions on how things should go or be done.

We have to view this in light of the context – God gets to decide. God made us. God is the one who is in charge. We will never have a case against God. God never violates our rights.

It is good for us to remember that God is the Potter. And that Potter makes the choices and we say – God is God and we are not.

Hold Your Peace – By Jenny Geddes Band

Resources

New City Sermon Series on Romans: https://newcitydenver.org/sermons/