On the radio today, the Christian radio host spoke. The host said, “Remember, God is the potter and you are the clay. It isn’t up to us to worry about finishing His work.” This spoke to me. Self-criticism can be a problem for many of us.
I often try to “complete the product.” I analyze myself as I try to figure out what I will look like when God is finished with His process. Often, I even look at myself through my own eyes as a work not completed.
Self-Criticism
The view I have of myself is a negative one or at least neutral at best. God sent his son Jesus to die for me. Because Jesus died, his blood paid for my sins. Therefore, when I accept this forgiveness, God no longer sees me as a sinner. Instead, He views me through Christ’s righteousness.
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10
God sees me as His bride. I am someone He rejoices over!
“For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Isaiah 62:5
Not only does He rejoice over me, He sings over me!
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
When we are followers of Christ, God doesn’t look at us as sinners.
“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:10-12
I am an heir of God through Christ!
“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:6-7
He is preparing a mansion for me!
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3
He wants to give me the kingdom
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
God delights in me and sees me through the righteousness of His son. His still small voice reminded me it is not my job to critique His unfinished work (me). He will do a good work in me. I am not the master. I am only the clay. He is working out the imperfections. My job is to be someone He is able to mold by ensuring my heart is soft and pliable. I do not have the right to judge His unfinished work as good or bad.
I have spent my life looking over His shoulder as the master created His work in me. “Hmmm….I don’t think I am very good. I’m certainly not presentable to the master.”
Am I the Master or the Clay?
What God taught me today is:
- “Who am I to critique?”
- “Am I the master or the clay?”
- “Does the clay get to determine how to create the finished product?” (Isaiah 29:16, Romans 9:20)
The answers are obvious. I can relax. My critique of myself is not needed or wanted from the Master. In fact, my criticism is often lies from the enemy. I do not want my kids telling themselves they are not good enough or believing they do not please me. (Because they do please me immensely!) In the same way, God does not take my view of myself into consideration when He decides whether or not my life pleases Him.
By accepting the forgiveness offered through Christ’s death, I am a new creation. The old me is gone and I am new. Therefore, God sees me as this new creation. He rejoices over me as His virgin bride. He sings over me and he is preparing me a mansion! Wow. Even as I write this, it amazes me. God would love me this much? He does. The scripture clearly teaches us God’s love for us is so overwhelmingly good.
One of the first steps I need to take to discover God’s will for my life is simply for me to understand God’s love for me. It is hard for me to remember I am the clay and I am not responsible for the quality of His finished work in me.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6
(Scriptures above are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.)
Additional scripture references:
“Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” Isaiah 29:16 KJV
“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” Romans 9:20 KJV
