God seeks a humble, malleable heart of clay for each of us: “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). A renowned poem by an unknown author describes our journey as clay hearts:
I took a piece of plastic clay
And gently pressed day by day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It yielded and molded to my will.
I came again when days had passed,
The bit of clay was hard at last,
It still that early imprint bore
And I could fashion it no more.
I took a piece of living clay
And gently pressed day by day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It yielded and molded to my will,
I came again when days were gone,
It was a man I now looked upon,
He still that early imprint bore
And I could fashion him no more.
When we bend the knees of our hearts to God and receive His forgiveness in Jesus Christ, He begins to shape us to receive His forgiving heart. Jesus taught believers to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). C. S. Lewis said that as was the most sobering two-letter-word in all of Scripture because we are actually praying for God to forgive us with the same exact liberality that we issue in forgiving those who sin against us. That can be a scary prayer.
The Holy Spirit always guides us to live humbly in our relationships, especially being characterized and known as a forgiver, the hallmark of Christ who commanded followers to forgive in order to be forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15). When we are willing to both seek and offer forgiveness, the Holy Spirit uses our humility to draw those we encounter to Christ. Forgiveness is quite possibly the most compelling tool to evangelize and disciple people in the Kingdom of God.
What conflict is at the forefront of your life? Has someone robbed you of a piece of your time, talent, or treasure? Soften your heart to forgive them because you have been forgiven by the God of the Universe.
Episode 393: Restoration Theology | Christology: The Study of Christ from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.