Make Me the Man
E.A. Johnston teaches that God, like a potter, lovingly shapes and reshapes believers into the men He desires them to be despite their imperfections.
In 'Make Me the Man,' E.A. Johnston draws from the imagery of a potter shaping clay to illustrate God's loving and sovereign work in molding believers. Using Jeremiah 18 as a foundation, Johnston invites listeners to embrace God's refining process despite their imperfections. Through personal stories, scripture, and a heartfelt poem, he encourages a deeper surrender to God's sanctifying work in their lives.
Full Transcript
Years ago, while on my honeymoon to Hot Springs, Arkansas, my wife and I visited a pottery barn where we watched a craftsman work on a potter's wheel as he molded and shaped wet clay into an object we had picked out in the front shop. I chose a manly coffee mug and he shaped that clay into that coffee mug and then heated it in an oven. For many years after, I enjoyed my morning coffee out of that mug made on the potter's wheel.
In Jeremiah 18, we read, the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels, and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again, another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. I wrote a little poem, friends, called Make Me the Man, and it goes like this.
Lord, you love me and gave yourself for me. Make me the man you want me to be. I'm not the man you need me to be.
I'm stained by sin and cracked again. Lord, make me the man you want me to be. Lord, you love me and gave yourself for me.
Make me the man you want me to be. Take this marred clay back into thy hands, and as it seems good to thee, make me again to the pattern you have planned.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction with personal story of pottery
- Illustration of the potter shaping clay
- Connection to God's work in believers' lives
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II
- Reading and explanation of Jeremiah 18
- God as the potter who reshapes marred vessels
- The call to surrender to God's molding
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III
- Presentation of the poem 'Make Me the Man'
- Acknowledgment of human sin and imperfection
- Prayer for God to shape us according to His plan
Key Quotes
“Lord, you love me and gave yourself for me. Make me the man you want me to be.” — E.A. Johnston
“The vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again, another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.” — E.A. Johnston
“Take this marred clay back into thy hands, and as it seems good to thee, make me again to the pattern you have planned.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Trust God’s process of shaping and refining your character even when you feel marred or broken.
- Regularly surrender your life to God’s hands, asking Him to mold you into the person He desires.
- Remember that God’s love and sacrifice empower your ongoing spiritual growth and transformation.