Jeremiah 18 is one of the most famous chapters of the Bible put to music and sung by the followers of Christ. Adelaide Pollard was a deeply discouraged missionary, who was not able to raise the funds she needed to go to Africa. As a girl she suffered from many physical and emotional problems. She was a diabetic and experienced deep bouts of depression. Greatly discouraged, she attended a prayer service one evening and as she sat there, she overheard an elderly woman say, “It really doesn’t matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your own way with our lives.” The elderly woman inspired Adelaide and she contemplated the story of the potter from Jeremiah 18:3-4. Upon returning home that evening, she grabbed a pen and wrote down a poem. She saw herself as needing to be remolded by the Potter.
“Have thine own way Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
while I am waiting yielded and still.
“Have thine own way Lord! Have thine own way.
Search me and try me, Master today.
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
as in Thy presence humbly I bow.”
“Have thine own way Lord! Have thine own way.
Wounded and weary, help me I pray.
Power all power surely is Thine.
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
“Have thine own way Lord! Have thine own way.
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only always living in me.”
Early in the 20th century those words were put to music and the church has been singing them ever since. What Adelaide Pollard came to understand and what Israel needed to understand, is that they needed the Potter to remold them. God’s people too need to clearly understand this about God. He is the sovereign Potter, and He can do whatever He wants to do with His people who are the clay. He can mold the clay into something beautiful and useful or He can destroy the clay. Jeremiah was to bring them this truth.
Adelaide Pollard did serve in Africa as a missionary and later taught at a Bible college in the USA.
This Sunday we will look at Jeremiah 18 and focus on a biblical outlook on life. Please join us at 10:30 for worship, a message for God’s Word and fellowship after the service.
Bruce Davie, Pastor IBCZ