Chapter 1 Part 2 God's Part vs. Man's Part

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10

We are clay in the Master Potter’s hands. We must now expect Him to begin His work. His way of accomplishing that which we have entrusted to Him may be very different than from our way. He made us, is molding us, and we must be satisfied.

Many times in my life I have been a yielded, trusting piece of clay in our Father’s hands until His hands begin to mold me in unexpected and unforeseen ways. I yielded in the beginning of the process, but because I didn’t understand the divine plan , I took herself out of the hands of the Heavenly Potter, and the vessel became marred on the wheel.

Many other vessels has been similarly marred by taking ourselves out of the Master’s hands. The maturity of Christian experience cannot be reached in a moment, but is the result of the work of God’s Holy Spirit, who, by His energizing and transforming power, causes us to grow up into Christ in all things. And we cannot hope to reach this maturity in any other way than by yielding ourselves up completely and willingly to His mighty working. But the sanctification the Scriptures urge as a present experience upon all believers does not consist in maturity of growth, but in purity of heart, and this may be as complete in the babe in Christ as in the veteran believer.

The lump of clay, from the moment it is touched by transforming hand of the Potter is just what the Potter wants it to be at that hour or on that day to please Him. But it is very far from being matured into the vessel He intends to transform the clay into.

God’s works are perfect in every stage of our growth. Our works are never perfect until they are in every respect complete.

All that we claim then in this life of sanctification is, that by a step of faith we put ourselves into the hands of the Lord, for Him to work in us all the good pleasure of His will; and that by a continuous exercise of faith we keep ourselves there. This is our part. When we remain in His hands, we are truly pleasing to God. although it may require years of training and discipline to mature us into a vessel that shall bring honor and glory to Him, and fitted to every good work.

Our part is trusting. It is His part to accomplish the results. When we do our part, He never fails to do His, for no one ever trusted in the Lord and was confounded. Do not be afraid, then, that if you trust, or tell others to trust, the matter will end there. Trust is only the beginning and the continual foundation When we trust, the Lord will do mighty works in us. His work is the important part of the whole matter.

The creation that God is molding on His wheel become vessels for Him to pour out His love and power to humanity. It is not us, but God within us.

Have Thine own way, Lord, have thine own way
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will.
While I am waiting, yielded and still.-Adelaide A. Pollard