Bible Reading: ISAIAH 8:1-end
“Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion” – Isaiah 8:18 (KJV).
No one manufactures a good product and hides it. People like to identify with good things. Manufacturers give brand name to their products and they are proud to identify with such products. It is only when people produce fake or substandard things that they shy away from it. In such cases, they push the products to the market to make quick money but not with the intention to make a name. The reason manufacturers or producers take time to put quality and good packaging to their products is because they value not only the money such products can bring but also their names that the products projects. Because of the value God places in his name, he takes time to fashion his people so they will not bring shame but glory to him. God takes some time in his workshop to fashion his children before he displays them. God exemplified this in the account of the clay and the porter as shown to prophet Jeremiah. He showed that he was not so much in haste as to display a product that will bring shame and disrepute to him. He made it again another vessel. The whole drama was to show to prophet Jeremiah his dealings with Israel and his people to come (Jeremiah 18:1-6).
We remember also that God showcased Job by way of advertisement for the world to see a man he has fashioned. Satan did not believe in the quality of God’s product. The result is that God allowed Job to be tested and tried to prove beyond doubt the quality of the man he has made. At the end of the test, the quality of God’s product was not in doubt, satan was humiliated, Job was delivered while God was vindicated. In the same way, the Lord takes you through his workshop where every circumstance of life are part of our training and every life event become part of the curriculum. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” – Romans 8:28 (KJV).
What a great privilege to be chosen by God and to be fashioned by him for display for the whole of creations to see the beauty of the finished product. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” – 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV).
PRAYER: Dear Lord, may my life show forth your glory always.
Rev. Vincent Diolu