God’s Molded Instruments 上帝塑造的器皿
Dexu Xia
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8
Considered one of the greatest video games ever made, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has sold more than seven million copies worldwide. It’s also popularized the ocarina, a tiny, ancient, potato-shaped musical instrument made of clay.
The ocarina doesn’t look like much of a musical instrument. However, when it’s played—by blowing into its mouthpiece and covering various holes around its misshapen body—it produces a strikingly serene and hauntingly hopeful sound.
The ocarina’s maker took a lump of clay, applied pressure and heat to it, and transformed it into an amazing musical instrument. I see a picture of God and us here. Isaiah 64:6, 8–9 tells us: “All of us have become like one who is unclean. . . . Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter. . . . Do not be angry beyond measure.” The prophet was saying: God, You’re in charge. We’re all sinful. Shape us into beautiful instruments for You.
That’s exactly what God does! In His mercy, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin, and now He’s shaping and transforming us as we walk in step with His Spirit every day. Just as the ocarina maker’s breath flows through the instrument to produce beautiful music, God works through us—His molded instruments—to accomplish His beautiful will: to be more and more like Jesus (Romans 8:29).
How can knowing that you’re a recipient of God’s mercy affect what you think, say, and do today? How can you submit yourself to His transformation?
Father, thank You for saving me and transforming me so that I’ll become more like Your Son, Jesus. Teach me to submit to Your Spirit’s work of transforming me.
我们是泥，祢是窑匠，我们都是祢手的工作。—以赛亚书64章8节
任天堂的《萨尔达传说：时之笛》可说是有史以来最出色的电玩游戏之一，全球销量超过七百万套。这款游戏也使那古老、小型、马铃薯状的黏土制陶笛，成为流行的乐器。
奇形怪状的陶笛虽不太像个乐器，但当人按着笛身不同的笛孔，向着笛口吹奏时，就能产生出奇平静又充满希望的声音。
制作陶笛的工匠拿一团黏土，巧妙地运用压力及热力的原理，将其转化成一件美妙的乐器。这让我联想到上帝如何塑造我们，就像以赛亚书64章6、8-9节说：“我们都像不洁净的人，……耶和华啊，现在祢仍是我们的父！我们是泥，祢是窑匠，……求祢不要大发震怒。”先知的意思是：上帝啊，祢掌管一切，我们都犯了罪，求祢将我们塑造成合祢所用的美妙器皿。
这正是上帝的作为！上帝怜悯世人而赐下祂的儿子耶稣，为我们的罪而死。现今，当我们每天与圣灵同行时，祂就不断地塑造并改变我们。正如制作陶笛的工匠吹奏乐器而产生美妙的音乐一样，上帝也透过我们，就是祂所塑造的器皿成全祂的美意：使我们能越来越像耶稣（罗马书8章29节）。
知道自己已蒙上帝怜悯，如何影响你的思想及言行？
你如何让上帝来塑造你？
亲爱的天父，感谢祢拯救我、改变我，
让我能越来越像祢的儿子耶稣。
求祢教导我能毫无保留地让圣灵改变我的生命。