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 (64:7) But now, O Lord, our father art thou; we are the clay, and thou our fashioner; and the work of thy hand are we all.
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,2 Arise, and go down to the potters house, and there will I let thee hear my words.3 Then went I down to the potters house, and, behold, he was doing work on the wheels.4 And the vessel that he was making became spoiled as happeneth with the clay in the hand of the potter; and he made again thereof another vessel, as it seemed good in the eyes of the potter to make it.5 Then came the word of the Lord to me, saying,6 Shall I not be able to do unto you as this potter, O house of Israel? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potters hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
9 Woe unto him that contendeth with the one who formed hima potsherd among the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
16 Oh your perverseness! shall the potter be esteemed as the clay? that the work shall say of its maker, He hath not made me? or shall the thing framed say of its framer, He had 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.
2 The precious sons of Zion, valued equal to pure gold, how are they now 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 carefully fashioned me and made me; every thing is in harmony all round about; and yet thou dost destroy me!9 Remember, I beseech thee, that as though I were clay hast thou made me; and wilt thou cause me to return again unto the dust?
23 Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
34 Wail, ye shepherds, and cry; and roll yourselves about in the dust, ye leaders of the flocks; for full are your days for you to be slaughtered, and I will scatter you; and you shall fall like a costly vessel.