Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.
Observation
We are clay and as such are constantly being molded. Yet we are clay with one additive that does not exist in other forms of clay. That additive is "free-will". God has given us free-will to choose who we will look like. We can choose the world and in the end we will have the image of bitterness, greed, selfishness, and pride. Or we can choose Christ and we will look like love, gentleness, peace, and humility.
Once the choice is made we apply action to it and the Potter's wheel begins to turn and mold.
The way the clay is formed also depends on the image being made. If the clay is formed in the image of God, then the work is done from inside out. This type of formation makes the image sturdy, this pot has multiple uses and will last a long time. When the image is set for the world, the work is done from the outside in. The image looks right on the outside but inside isn't quite right and the pot can never hold water or fulfill other purposes.
The pot formed in the image of Christ, is used by Christ for whatever God wills. Each day this pot is being cleaned and starting off in the Potter's had ready for whatever use pleases the Potter. The pot formed in the image of the world is set on a shelf, out of the way, and is no use to anyone.
Application
When I gave my life to Christ, I basically said, "I want to look like You Jesus". From then on, each day I am to place myself on the Potter's wheel and allow Him to do His work on me, which is from the inside out. Some morning's I come to God and I feel like I have completely undone the work he did the day before. But He patiently puts me back on the wheel and continues His work. He uses the crack or stain that I encountered the day before and weave's together something beautiful; so that when looking at me you would never know that it was a crack that I made, it looks all apart of the master plan. The more I look like Him the more aware I am of the things that please Him, the more I am able to know HIs heart. I can see joy in affliction, and see past behavior into the heart of the matter, and I see hope in hopeless situations. I can also discern His wisdom verses my own or even the worlds. And the more I look like Him the more I want to look like Him. This all happens by each day placing myself on the Potter's wheel and saying, "I want to look like You Jesus!"
Prayer
Lord, I place myself in Your creative and transforming hands and ask that You make me look like Your Son. So faithful and true, always gentle and patient. Fill this pot with a greater love for You and Others.
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