Monday, February 13, 2017

Vessels of Mercy
By Susan Klein

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us…”

I’ve been camping out in the book of Romans lately. Our pastor is preaching from it and our small group is delving into it. As often happens when immersed in God’s Word, a passage that I’ve previously read a number of times suddenly comes to life. In chapter nine, Paul is expressing his despair over Israel’s rejection of the Messiah. Being a Jew himself, he goes so far as to say that his great anguish has made him wish/pray that he, himself, could be cut off from Christ if it would lead to the belief of his Jewish brothers. Wow! I desire to see the lost come to know Christ, but would I be willing to give up my salvation in order for it to happen? My life, maybe. But, my salvation?

Fortunately, God does not call us to do something so extreme. Paul knows this to be true. He himself advocates God’s grace as being irrevocable. But Paul makes another good point in the above text. While we can’t trade places with someone who is perishing, we are to be “vessels of mercy.” Have you ever thought of yourself in this way? If you’ve accepted God’s  gift of grace and mercy, you are a vessel of His  mercy! Let me gently paraphrase the above text:

God is just, and is rightfully capable of exercising His powerful wrath on those who deserve it. But, He is also long-suffering (desiring that no one perish) toward those who reject Him, exercising great restraint so that His glory may be shown through us, His chosen ones, prepared in advance to share His mercy with others.

You may think of yourself as a “cracked pot,” a “broken pitcher,” or even just a “lump of clay,” but The Potter desires to use you just as you are to be His “vessel of mercy” to those around you. You don’t have to get your cracks filled, your pieces glued back together, or be molded into a beautifully crafted urn before He can use you. Whether you’re battered and broken, or a mere piece of greenware, you’re filled with the riches of His grace and mercy. Are you a willing vessel, ready to be poured out on someone?


GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you giving more thought to the condition of your vessel or what’s inside?
2. What are you pouring out?

FURTHER READING:


Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads an on-site small group.