PROCESS

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! – Psalm 146:10

Life is a Process; a gradual process, not an abrupt product. Principles are like life’s rails on the railway track. They keep life moving in the right direction. In our life’s journey we need biblical principles to be governed and to live by; among which the Principle of Process is key. For example, God ordered creation into processing cycles of times and seasons: to plant, water, wait, harvest, and replant. In particular, the Christian life is a process of growing to know God as revealed in Scriptures. This knowledge of the Holy One transforms our lives “from glory to glory”, as we grow “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” ((Phil.3:10; 2Pet.1:2, 3:18). Life is a process of birth, growth, discipline, learning, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming.

One of the greatest portraits of God and His people is that of the Potter and the Clay (Jer.18:1-6). The Potter’s House reassures us that no matter how terribly we have messed up in life, how many blunders we have made, or how miserably we have failed, God does not cast us away! Instead, He takes our broken pieces, remoulds, reshapes, and processes us into new creations. He noticed a defect in the clay, squashed it and started all over again. The expression “so are you in My hand” is a claim of sovereignty, ability, and power (v.6). Our chief duty as clay is to yield to the Potter’s hand, that He may exercise His Will over us, for our benefit and blessing. He knows the clay inside-out: its origin, nature and limitations. He knows our frame! He does not disqualify us because of our imperfections, but processes us to become qualified “by grace” (Isa.64:6; 1 Cor.10:12). He sees beyond our imperfections; knowing His potential in us!

The Potter’s Purpose is to process us by His grace, from worthless lumps of clay into Vessels of Honour. We can choose to yield or to resist and rebel. The process of transforming worthless clay into a useable state takes extensive time and effort. God sees what we can become, digs us out, washes us clean, dries us up, and shapes us. In His hands, we are not simply toys to play with, tools to work with, or pets to pamper; we are designed to be Vessels for His Service, for the flow of His Grace, and the Glow of His Glory. We were made by God for God. Vessels that would bring the greatest glory to God are those that are conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29; Gal. 4:19). Our glorious manifestations are found in submission to the shaping Hand of the Potter. The God of all Grace specializes in transforming the common into the commendable, and He is not in a hurry to do so!

The Lord discovered, directed, defended, and developed Jacob (Dt.32:9-13). Joseph was processed through seasons of silence, slavery, sentence, significance and shining. Through persecution, the pit, Potiphar’s house, and prison, he finally arrived in the Palace (Psa.105:6-24). Moses has his seasons of pleasure, preparation, and prophetic manifestation. David was trained for the throne from Bethlehem, Adullam, Hebron, to Zion. Jesus was born in a manger; and journeyed from Bethlehem to “Glory”! We are subject to similar processes. We are works in progress in the Hands of the Perfect Potter. He is more interested in the production of character than the provision of comfort! Divine processing is not always pleasant!

Sometimes God chastises us in love, seeking His best in our lives. Rather than discard the marred clay, He refashions and processes us for Perfection. Many of us are going through “divine processing,” being prepared for divine Release. Like Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, and Esther in Persia’s palace, our “kingdom destinies” would arise to impact our world!