November 3

LET YOURSELF BE SHAPED

Isaiah  64:1-9

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8(NRSV)

            In the Seminary chapel worship services we often sing a hymn that is one of my favorites: Have Thine Own Way, Lord. The words were authored by Adelaide A. Pollard, inspired by verse 8 of today’s text. It’s said that her great desire was to be a missionary, but she was prevented by precarious health.* Thus, the hymn is a declaration of her submission to God’s will.

            This and other biblical passages utilize the same image of the potter and the clay to represent the the relationship between the Lord and us.

            The potter starts with a lump of clay and places it on the wheel. As the wheel spins the clay, the craftsman shapes it, modeling the beautiful vessel he aspires to create. Sometimes, the potter discovers a defect. In that case, he takes the same lump of clay, crushes it, adds a little water to soften it and works and models it toward a new vessel, a beautiful vessel. Isn’t that what God does with us every time? He is converting you into a beautiful vessel, unique and special for Him. Trust in the Lord.

 

Prayer: Have your own way with me, Lord; you are the potter, I am the clay. Amen.

 

* Translator’s note: Wikipedia tells the story of Pollard differently: “In 1902, Adelaide A. Pollard was hoping to go to Africa as a missionary but found herself unable to raise the needed funds to make the journey. Greatly discouraged, she attended a prayer service one evening and as she sat there, she overheard an elderly woman say “It really doesn't matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your own way with our lives.” The elderly woman inspired Pollard and she contemplated the story of the potter from Jeremiah 18:3 and, upon her return home that evening, wrote all four stanzas before retiring for the night.”

Translation by John Potter

Noviembre 3

DÉJATE MOLDEAR

Isaias  64:1-9

Nosotros somos el barro, tú nuestro alfarero; ¡todos fuimos hechos por ti mismo!

Isaías 64:8

            En la capilla del Seminario cantamos con frecuencia en los servicios de adoración un himno que se cuenta entre mis favoritos: “Haz lo que quieras de mí, Señor”. Su letra es de la autoría de Adelaide A. Pollard, inspirada en el verso 8 del texto de hoy. Se cuenta que su gran anhelo era ser misionera, cosa que no consiguió por lo precario de su salud. El himno es, pues, una declaración de sumisión a Dios y su voluntad.

            En este y en otros pasajes de la Biblia se utiliza la misma imagen del alfarero y el barro para representar al Señor y a nosotros.

            El alfarero comienza con un trozo de arcilla y lo coloca en el torno. A medida que la rueda hace girar la arcilla, el artesano le va dando forma, modelando la hermosa vasija que aspira crear. A veces el alfarero descubre un defecto. En ese caso, toma el mismo barro, lo aplasta, le añade un poco de agua para ablandarlo y vuelve a trabajarlo y modelarlo hasta hacer una nueva vasija, una vasija mejor. ¿No es acaso eso lo que Dios hace con nosotros cada vez? Él te está convirtiendo en una hermosa vasija, única y especial para Él. Confía en el Señor.

 

Oración: Haz lo que quieras, Señor, de mí; tú eres el alfarero, yo el barro soy. Amén.