Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJV)

As a child, I loved to make mud pies. In fact, during the summer, I was up to my elbows making miniature bowls, dishes, and furniture. Then, I discovered that I could make clay babies. After spending my day creating, I would place the babies to dry in a row along the top board of my mother's gray wooden fence. The babies would have been ideal, I thought, if only they could breathe. But I didn't have the power to bring them to life.

That human life could be formed from dust is a mystery to us. Yet, in Scripture, it is written, "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand" (Isaiah 64:8 KJV). Imagine! God formed a lifeless Adam from a piece of clay. Then, with a puff of His own breath, He brought the clay to life. Instantly, Adam became a fully functional, breathing, feeling, thinking human being made in God's own image!

When I think back to my clay babies, I realize that before I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, my own spirit was as lifeless as the clay that I made them from. When they dried, they were brittle, and their heads, arms, and legs would often fall off. Sometimes when I picked them up, they would shatter into pieces. I realize that without Christ, I was as fragile as they were.

We always need to be reminded that we are humble, earthen beings. Without the Holy Spirit and His power living within us, we are like my clay babies, spiritually helpless and powerless to worship and serve God.

Prayer: Father, grant us the grace of humility, so that we always remember that without You, we are nothing, and that with You, we become everything that You have designed us to be in Christ. Thank You for Your loving kindness! Amen.

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About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
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