Spiritual Formation - Lessons From The PotterSample

God’s People Are Important 

When singing this old song ‘You are the potter I am the clay, mold me and make me this is what I pray’; we can get overly focused on the aspect of our individual formation. But in this passage the formation is about God’s people. Spiritual formation is not just about me. It’s not an individualistic exercise to connect with God. Spiritual formation takes place within the context of community. Notice verses 5 and 6 carefully: clay is not referring to Jeremiah alone, but it is referring to Israel.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

God's refining process is not about Jeremiah’s formation, but the formation was addressed to a community. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 

Spiritual formation is for the nation of Israel.  Each grain of clay had a part to play when the whole nation was being reformed. In our context, it would be the Church, or in the context of our family. Spiritual formation is not a competition, but it’s a team activity; I am responsible for my brother or sister’s well-being. In Ephesians 2:10 we read the phrase “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works”. Note again, this verse was not addressed to an individual, but to the church at Ephesus. Everyone within the Church was part of the grand design of the creative work of God. 

As individuals, we are merely a figment, or a grain of sand in the larger work of God that is being formed. It’s not merely about you and me as individuals. It’s not about showcasing how holy I am, but it’s about the people of God being reformed as a whole. Let’s look beyond our individual formation and work alongside with others to ensure we are all being reformed into His likeness.