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…”
Romans 9:22-24a (NASB)
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.
