As a father has compassion on his children, / so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers. / For he knows what we are made of; / he realizes we are made of clay.
Psalm 103:13-14 NET
What am I? What makes me different than the rocks and trees I see all around me? We are made from the same stuff. And just like the trees of the forest, I will someday die and decompose back into the dust I came from.
But I am more than a rock, a tree, or even another animal. I have been created in the image of God. And he has redeemed me by the blood of Jesus. He loves me, and I am his child. He has given me eternal life and his indwelling Holy Spirit.
I am a child of God. But I am also made of clay. I am weak. I fall short. Despite my best efforts, I often fail to live up to my calling as a child of God.
But he knows I am made of clay. And he has compassion for me. He continues to work and shape me into the image of Christ. He picks me up when I fall and forgives me when I fail.
What does God want from this lump of clay? He wants me, not to be perfect, but to be faithful and submissive to him. Perfection is beyond my ability. But if I am faithful to him, he will produce his own masterpiece in me.
