His fingers form the vase. It's messy work that turns into perfect beauty. It's messy work taking a slimy ball of a person and turning her into a vessel displaying glorious beauty. And the wheel of life keeps spinning. Round and round the clay spins; now fast; now slow. This forming, this shaping work is taking place--some moments of gentle smoothing, others of sharp cutting. His fingers are moving, firm and steady, finishing the work he began. He thought of it, planned it, saw it's finish, and now, it is almost done. She is almost ready. And then she will be put through the fire. 
Why must the delicate clay be licked by the flames of hell itself? So that it--so that she--will be strengthened; polished; perfected. For it's weakness is made strong in Christ. And He will save you from the flames. 
He rescues her, the clay, from the fiery furnace, and blesses her with beauty. Now the work is done, her beauty is perfected. She, that vessel of beauty, is placed in His house, where day after day she will declare Him glory. 
What once was soft clay among the dirt of the world is now purged and solid, standing aright in the holy presence of Christ.

You rescued me

You are mine, I am Yours

You rescued me

And I am Yours forever

You saved me, remade me

(TobyMac, Me Without You)

We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. ~ Isaiah 64:8 NIV Bible

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV Bible



Photo by Ümit Bakar