Growth Track Devotional - Make A Difference - Week 4

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL - WEEK 4

MAKE A DIFFERENCE “LIKE A POTTER WORKING WITH CLAY, GOD IS CONSTANTLY MOLDING & SHAPING US.”

DAY ONE We were designed and created by the ultimate artist. God turns ordinary sunrises into vast hues of yellows, oranges, and reds that light up the sky. Not only does He create beautiful landscapes that are masterpieces, but He also molds us into beautiful pieces of art. Clay is unique in its ability to be molded by hand into objects of beauty. The preparation of clay is quite involved, requiring the potter to use a wire to check for lumps, air pockets, and foreign bodies to ensure consistency. The molding of clay takes time as the potter forms, kneads, shapes, pinches, and crafts the pot. Then, when exposed to heat, formation takes place. God’s been molding and forming us since we were born. He’s the potter, and we’re the clay. We’re the work of His hands.

As God’s craftsmanship, we’re a significant part of the body of Christ. Every single person is needed, and it takes each one of us to complete it. Without clay, the potter can’t make a pot. God uses us to accomplish His plans and purposes on the earth. He gifted us with unique talents, abilities, and strengths. Often, we only see the visible gifts and place value on them, but visibility doesn’t always mean significance. For example, if a potter doesn’t look for air pockets in the clay, it could be dangerous and lead to an explosion in the kiln. Air pockets are significant even though they’re not visible at first glance. Every gift is essential to the body of Christ, and not one is more important than another. Our talents are to equip, train, encourage, and build the body of Christ.

LIKE A POTTER WORKING WITH CLAY, GOD IS CONSTANTLY MOLDING & SHAPING US. THROUGH THAT WORK, WE FIND FREEDOM & HOW WE CAN

make a difference IN THE WORLD.

1st Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one spirit as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one spirit to drink.” We were created to use our gifts alongside others’ in the body of Christ to bring Him glory. Every person and talent is important and has a specific purpose. We’re part of the body of Christ, and we’re all unique and distinct. God created us with purpose and

“As God’s craftmanship, we’re a

part of the body of Christ.”

consider the following:

1. How did God gift you? What abilities or talents do you have?

2. Reflect on any past imperfections that the Lord has worked out of the masterful artwork that you are.

3. How can you belong and work alongside your brothers and sisters to strengthen the body of Christ and further God’s Kingdom?

AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WE’RE THE

clay in His hands.

DAY TWO Clay is composed of silica, alumina, magnesia, iron, other metals, and water.

It’s a naturally occurring substance made from minerals, plants, and animals.

Over time, water pressure breaks up the minerals, and particles are filtered through sand or rocks. The particles become fine sand or sediment, leaving silt to settle in the beds of clay. The distance and purity of the silt determine the type of clay it becomes. Clay is best formed when in contact with water and air and is created through the prolonged weathering process by breaking down rocks and minerals on the earth’s surface. Erosion transports the stones and minerals away. Water, plants, acids, weather, and animals all change the agents of erosion. For clay to be made, a natural process of breaking down and formation occurs on the earth. The same process of breaking down, forming, and reforming, happens when you follow Christ.

In the Bible, Jeremiah is invited to a potter’s home and observes how he

He left his former ways of thinking and instead learned about God’s ways by watching an artist work. Jeremiah 18: 2-4 says, “So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 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 it seemed best to him.” This is an invitation to see God as an artist who doesn’t stop shaping us.

Genesis 2:7 says, “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” God shaped mankind and breathed His very life into our nostrils, but He didn’t leave us there. As children of God, we’re the clay in His hands. He wants to reshape, mold, and form us into His likeness. God can’t make us do anything, but opening our hearts is the gateway to connect with Him. Vulnerability requires us to be open and honest before the Lord. He already knows us, everything we’ve said and done, yet, He loves and accepts us unconditionally.

When we choose Him, we choose for our lives to be refashioned by the Potter.

He’ll take our weaknesses, strengths, and character flaws and rework them.

The forming takes time, patience, discomfort, vulnerability, and strength, but ultimately, the reshaping is for our own good. The process of this level of vulnerability and transformation is the birthplace of belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. The reshaping will give us a deeper sense of hope, authenticity, and accountability as we gain clarity on our purpose in God’s kingdom. We need to allow the Potter to take our lives and shape them for His glory.

Consider the following:

1. What areas of yout life need to be reformed and remolded by the Lord?

2. Find a quiet place to be alone with God and make yourself vulnerable to Him and ask Him to mold you like clay.

3. Share your experience of God’s reforming of yourself with someone that God brings to mind.

Even if you’re still in the middle of that process, allow yourselves to share back and forth about other testimonies of God’s goodness.

DAY THREE If you’ve never sat at a potter’s wheel and formed clay, it’s harder than it appears. Pottery is an art form that takes practice and skill. The potter must understand the tools necessary to create the desired outcome. Many use pottery wheels, a horizontal revolving disk that spins in a counterclockwise motion as the potter forms the clay with their hands. As the wheel spins, the potter shapes the clay. The pottery wheel can increase its speed and production while creating more evenness in the walls of clay. The wheel belongs to the potter, as does the clay. If the potter doesn’t have clay, the wheel is useless.

Acceptance requires us to fit in and become who we need to be in order to be accepted by others--to join the club, as it were. Belonging requires you to be who you already are. Belonging provides protection, security, and accountability, and we don’t have to search for our identity. God calls us His children, and in Him, we belong. Romans 1:6 (NIV) says, “And you also are among those who are called to belong to Christ Jesus.” God gave us immeasurable worth in Him because we belong to Him.

GOD CALLS US HIS CHILDREN, AND IN HIM

we belong.

Scripture is filled with promises of God’s unending love for us. Our identity, purpose, and home is with Him. Should the clay on a potter’s wheel remain as a useless lump? The clay cannot become anything without the potter. Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) says, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” We belong to the ultimate Potter. He’s molding and shaping us into the image of Jesus. We don’t have to question whether we belong because we’re part of God’s family. We may not always feel significant in the body of Christ, but just as the wheel is essential to mold clay, so are we in the body of Christ. God created each and every one of us, and we matter. We are His beautiful workmanship in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

“And you are also among those who are called to belong to

Christ Jesus.” Romans 1:6 (NIV)

Consider the following:

1. Do you feel like you belong?

2. If so, thank God for His love. If not, ask God to show you how you belong to Him. 3. Thank God for His belonging and acceptance, unique way that you were made.

ONE FAILURE DOESN’T DETERMINE our identity.

DAY FOUR There’s a lot of people who take their failures personally. To them, one mistake is evidence that they’re not enough. It’s easy for performance to be intertwined with identity, yet the two are separate. A potter could easily identify as a creator, making bowls, cups, plates, etc. What happens when a bowl doesn’t turn out the way the potter planned? Is the potter no longer a creator? No. The bowl doesn’t determine whether the potter continues to create objects; the potter does that. Likewise, one failure doesn’t determine our identity.

The word “failure” is often associated with a person. We say things like, “Ryan’s a failure for flunking the bar exam.” Ryan may have failed the test, but he isn’t a failure. Passing or failing the test doesn’t determine his worth, and flunking a test doesn’t demonstrate Ryan’s capabilities. The event is a snapshot in time and has nothing to do with his identity. Failures are events, not people, and we shouldn’t let our failures define us when the Lord doesn’t define us by them. Some of us may have grown up hearing, “You’re a failure and won’t amount to anything.” This is a lie! The word “failure” is defined as “a lack of success.” This definition is generic, and it’s ultimately determined by the individual. God chose us and knew that we weren’t going to get everything perfect when He created us, but failure is an opportunity to draw close to God. Every failure or mistake we make will either draw us closer to God or further away from Him. We shouldn’t let our failures and mistakes keep us stuck.

Psalm 103:12 (NIV) says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us.” The word “transgression” means “an

be characterized as sin, mistakes, failures, or a violation against God. Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness because forgiveness is the provision from God to release us from the past. When we receive forgiveness, we receive the benefit of the work done on the cross. We must choose to forgive ourselves and others. Once we choose to forgive, we must trust God with the grace and consequences of that sin. He takes the sin and mistakes of our lives to bring glory. When we choose to ask God for forgiveness, He can heal those

to continually seek God in every season. Our relationship with Him grows as a result, and we become more like His nature and character every time we go to Him. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) says, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Consider the following:

1. Do you see yourself as a failure, or do you see your failures as opportunities to meet God? 2. Ask God to help you let go of these feelings of failure.

3. Ask God to show you the names of people you need to forgive, as well as things you need to forgive yourself for, and thank Him for a fresh start.

DAY FIVE Have you ever quickly turned on the faucet to fill a bowl with water only for it to splash or dump out, getting you and the counter all wet? Then, in your annoyance, you turn the water on again and repeat what just happened? It can be aggravating, especially if you need a certain amount of water to fill something up. Depending on what you’re using it for, a water pitcher may work much better. A bowl is a round basin used to contain food or liquid, while a water pitcher is a taller container with a spout used for storing or pouring liquids. Both objects have a purpose, but design dictates where things belong.

For example, a water pitcher will hold lemonade in the refrigerator much better than a bowl would, but a bowl better contains hot chili. Both objects can hold liquids, but the designed purpose of each object gives them belonging.

As believers in Christ, we’re created to belong, and there’s power in that.

We’re designed to be a part of God’s family--the body of Christ. When God sent His Son, Jesus, He sent a family member on our behalf. Jesus came so we can be adopted as members of the heavenly family, and as members, we belong. God wanted us to be a part of a family that encourages, equips, and allows us to walk out our God-given identity as His child.

WE ARE THE WORKMANSHIP OF CHRIST JESUS AND ARE

precious to Him.

Belonging requires us to show up as we are, the way God created us to be.

When we’re our authentic selves, true belonging exists, even despite the imperfections and sin we stumble through. We don’t have to pretend, protect, perform, or be something that God never intended us to be. He created us with a purpose. Belonging allows us to be known because we’re a part of God’s family and are accepted and valued. We’re significant and have a place.

God gave us a purpose only we can fulfill in His family. His plan for our lives exceeds our expectations and dreams. Trust that the God of the universe, who spoke the Heavens into existence, sees us, knows us, and created us. We are the workmanship of Christ Jesus and are precious to Him. Psalm 100:3 (ESV) says, “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”

“Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and

we are His.” Psalm 100:3 (ESV)

Consider the following:

1. Reread Psalm 100:3. What is God trying to share with you through that verse?

2. Think about what God designed for you.

3. Ask God how He can use that design for something intentional and great.

LET YOUR GOD, SAVIOR, AND COMFORTOR SPEAK MORE TO YOU THROUGH

YOU’VE HAD.

DAY SIX Congratulations! You have made it through the Growth Track devotional!

That’s an amazing step in the process of knowing God and walking with Him more intimately. God is going to use the things you’ve felt, experienced, and seen through this process in beautiful ways throughout your life. He always has a next step in our faith journey to pursue a deeper relationship with Him and live in His Kingdom.

close a devotional like this and simply continue as normal, but we believe God still has something powerful for you. So, lean into the following activation with intentionality:

Take this time and spend it with God as you celebrate the things He’s done in your life over the past four weeks. Go back and read some of the notes you may have written in the margins. Write some more notes if you feel led to.

Let your God, Savior, and Comforter speak more to you through the reflection moments you’ve had. There’s power in remembrance. This is why God called the Israelites to build a monument after helping them cross the Jordan river-to remember. Joshua 4:5-7 (NIV) says, “‘Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do

the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters

of Israel forever.’”

Our God is the God of infinitely and abundantly more, and there is always another level deeper in knowing Him that He wants to take us. But He wants us to realize the power that is in remembrance as well.