God was the original recycler. Long before it became in vogue for those who care about the environment, God was setting the example. Rather than dispose of that which was not useful, Jeremiah records an amazing display of Gods's great grace! He chose not to throw away the clay, even though it refused to cooperate!! 

God, in His Grace, does not reject that which does not conform immediately to His proposes. He will endeavor over and over again to form us and make us into the man or woman of God He has called us to be!!

"I will in no wise cast you out"!! (John 6:37)

Waste not want not may be a proverbial declaration in our society, yet it is the drumbeat of the Kingdom!! If we are willing to allow the Lord to do the work, he will take our broken, unproductive and sinful lives and remake them into something beautiful and glorious!

Some things may be lost and forever changed in the process. God makes us into "another vessel". Purposes and ministries may change. Circumstances and situations may change. Even our plans and dreams may change. In spite of that God still keeps as as a vessel that He can use in His kingdom!

The church will do well to learn this lesson from the potter: don't throw away the clay. We are all vessels of clay that are the continual handiwork of God. When things go wrong, our primary guiding principle must be to keep the clay!!!

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

With these words we are introduced to Jesus teaching concerning prayer. The following verse give to us some of the most often quoted verses of the Bible. "Our Father... " is known, read and hidden in the hearts of more people than almost any other passage from any of the world's sacred writings!

Yet tucked in verse 1 is a small but significant revelation!

It was the disciples that asked the Lord to teach them, and they were provoked to ask because Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, had been teaching his disciples on the subject of prayer. Apparently the religious grapevine had circulated the story that John's disciples were being instructed in this important subject and that Jesus' disciples were not.

John taught his disciples to pray!!

Ultimately the disciples of Jesus were taught to pray as well, and became extremely effective in the domain of prayer. Jesus' half brother James was noted for his life of prayer. It is reported that his knees were like those of a camel because of the many hours he spent kneeling before his Saviour. The miracles and signs and wonders that accompanied the apostles are proof positive that Jesus taught them very well. Yet before jesus taught his disciples, John taught his disciples to pray!!

While we do not know "how" the disciples of John prayed, we do know that they were taught to pray and evidently put the lessons into action. While they lived under the ministry of the Messiah's forerunner, they were instructed in the habit of prayer.

How effective were John's teachings on this subject? Did his disciples really learn the lessons? A glimpse through the New Testament will reveal an amazing answer.

The first chapter of the Gospel of John reveals that two of John's disciples, who had been instructed in prayer, immediately followed the Lord Jesus when they encountered him. In fact, Andrew and Philip not only began to follow Jesus but influenced others to do the same. Their lifestyle of prayer brought about a sensitivity that enabled them to recognize the Lord when he appeared and even more importantly, to abandon their old ways and take of a "new and living way!" This all happened because...

John taught his disciples to pray!!

The book of Acts, chapter 18, speaks of Apollos who only knew the ways of John. Yet his first encounter with the Gospel message of Christ's death and resurrection brought about an immediate response. Because he prayed, he responded in a positive fashion when a more perfect way was presented to him. Apollos held faithfully to what he learned, and grabbed ahold of even greater truth because...

John taught his disciples to pray!!

In the subsequent chapter of the book of Acts, likely 20 or more years after the death of John the Baptist, Paul encounters some more of his disciples near Ephesus. By their own confession they only knew what John had taught them. Unspoken in this conversation is the fact that John taught his disciples to pray!! Without the baptism of the Holy Ghost, living in the shadows of an unknown Messiah, they stayed faithful to the truths that they had been taught. Furthermore, when the teaching of the church: repentance, water baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in other tongues, came along, they readily and without hesitation grabbed ahold of it!! This happened because...

John taught his disciples to pray!!

Few things can be more important in our Christian life than to be taught to pray! Prayer sustained these disciples of John over many years. Prayer prepared the hearts of these disciples to be led into "all truth". Prayer made the disciples of John spiritual sensitive to the message of the Mighty God in Christ!

Leaders, while you teach on many subjects, be sure to teach often on the subject of prayer. Disciples, make it known to your leaders that you want and need more teaching on prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray. John taught his disciples to pray. Let us follow their example, in Jesus name!!