Vaso
A metáfora do vaso é uma das mais belas da Bíblia. Assim como o oleiro molda o barro, Deus nos forma segundo seus propósitos, fazendo de nós vasos úteis para sua glória.
Nas mãos do oleiro
Deus é o Oleiro e nós somos o barro. Ele tem autoridade e sabedoria para nos moldar conforme sua vontade perfeita, e não devemos questionar sua obra.
8 But now, O LORD, thou are our Father. We are the clay, and thou our potter, and we are all the work of thy hand.
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from LORD, saying,2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.4 And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it another vessel again, as seemed good to the potter to make it.5 Then the word of LORD came to me, saying,6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? says LORD. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
20 Rather, O man, who are thou answering back to God? No, will the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why did thou make me this way?21 Or has the potter no right over the clay, from the same lump certainly to make this vessel for esteem, and that for disesteem?
9 Woe to him who strives with his maker, a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are thou making? or thy work, He has no hands?
16 Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay, that the thing made should say of him who made it, He did not make me, or the thing formed say of him who formed it, He has no understanding?
Vasos para honra
O cristão é chamado a ser um vaso de honra, purificado e preparado para toda boa obra. Nosso valor está em quem nos formou e no que carregamos.
20 Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wood and earthen, and some for esteem and some for disesteem.21 If therefore any man purges himself from these things, he will be a vessel for esteem, sanctified and useful to the master, prepared for every good work.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not from us,
2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Moldados pela graça
Mesmo quando nos sentimos frágeis e imperfeitos, o poder de Deus se aperfeiçoa em nossa fraqueza. Ele nos restaura e nos renova continuamente.
8 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about, yet thou destroy me.9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou have fashioned me as clay. And will thou bring me into dust again?
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
34 Wail, ye shepherds, and cry. And wallow, ye principal men of the flock. For the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions have fully come, and ye shall fall like a goodly vessel.