Once, God commanded Jeremiah to conduct a field study at a potter's house. There, Jeremiah saw how the potter made a vessel from a lump of clay. When the vessel he was making turned out to be damaged or did not fit his plan, the potter would reshape it into another model. Then the Lord spoke in Jeremiah 18:6, "Can I not do with you as this potter has done, O house of Israel? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel!" I am interested in the Word of God that I have bolded. God Himself says that the nation of Israel is the clay and God is the Potter. Do you agree with that understanding? If you agree, please remember it well, because we will return to that formula later. In today's context, we are actually lumps of useless mud by the side of the road who hope to be brought home by the Great Potter. One thing we often forget is that the Potter has a beautiful plan for every lump of mud He brings home. Who knows how many hopeless lumps He has transformed into pitchers, vessels, or other tools that are clean and useful. Reshaped through a very hot fire. Truly a process that is very unpleasant and painful for us, this dirty mud. It does not fit what we want. We often even hope that once we reach His house, we can just remain a lump of mud. We want to move from the dirty roadside to a glorious home, but we do not want to be transformed into a useful tool in that house. That is where we have become mud that is not only dirty but also very self-centered. Let me remind you of the formula I bolded earlier. We are the mud, and God is the Potter. We very often or even always talk about all the discomfort of the process we have to go through. Yet there are two parties in that example. I mean, have we ever thought that processing mud into a beautiful vessel is also not pleasant for the Potter? He has to dirty His hands, spend time and energy, and face a hot furnace, just for a lump of mud! More precisely, a lump of dirty mud that is selfish and full of complaints. By now, you certainly understand that I am not saying God can get hot in front of a furnace. However, the point I am making is that instead of being grateful for all the trouble the Potter has to go through, we complain more often. We tend to think that we are the center of everything, so that even God must listen to our complaints. As if God needs us more. If God wants to process us, then God must find a way for us to stay comfortable through that process. In reality, my friend, being a Christian is not about blessings and comfort in life. Being a Christian is about life transformation. Changing from pride to humility. From rebellion to obedience. And all of that, once again everything, is for our own benefit and good. God is not at all advantaged whether we want to change or not. Ah, but I am sure you all have understood that, haven't you? May the Lord Jesus bless you.