Life Lessons from Jeremiah Pt. 8: I Am the Clay By Louie Marsh, 6-21-2026 1) Following Jesus can get STRANGE. "1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2"Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." (Jeremiah 18:1, ESV) "2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,' ""…"6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey." (Mark 1:2-3,6, ESV) "1Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1–2, ESV) 2) Spiritual truth often PARALLELS real life. 3So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. (Jeremiah 18:3-4, ESV) "24He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field," (Matthew 13:24, ESV) 3) If Jesus is Lord I allow Him FREE REIGN in my life. 5Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:5-6, ESV) "13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am." (John 13:13, ESV) 4) God is the Sovereign of the Universe, in the end His will is DONE. 7If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 9And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. (Jeremiah 18:7-10, ESV) 5) In light of this – I must REPENT. 11Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: 'Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.' (Jeremiah 18:11, ESV) 6) The unbelieving world WON'T DO this. 12"But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'" (Jeremiah 18:12, ESV)