April 5, 2024 -- Romans 9:6-13 -- Bowls suited for mercy and others for destruction

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Romans 9:6-13 ESV

A woman asked her husband, “Why do you love me?” He replied, “Because you are beautiful/” Can you see the problem? When her beauty fades, will he still love her? A man asked his wife, “Why do you love me?” She answered, “Because you are so smart.” Ah, you are anticipating there might be a problem with this answer as well. Good catch on your part. What happens if he has a concussion, or if his memory fails? What if he has a stroke and this beautiful brain is impaired? Will she still love him?

Ask yourself this: “Why does God love me?” You can think of all kinds of answers, but if any of them are based on what you do, or don’t do, then His love will be like a roller coaster. When you are obedient, or loving, or faithful, or quitting a particular sin, then He will love you. But, consider this, when you struggle in any area, you will lose your confidence and think thatHis love for you will fade. It cannot be like this.

Paul teaches the Romans (and by extension you and me) telling them God sets His love on those whom He has chosen. He declares, “I love you because I love you”. It is based on the Father Himself, His electing love demonstrated through the work of Jesus and this is applied to believers by the Holy Spirit. So on your bad days, He loves you by His Sovereign choice. On your worst days, He loves you by His divine will. On your best days, He loves you. It is the Spirit of God Who keeps you at the spout where the love of God pours out and the Kingdom of Jesus is brought about.

But what about those whom God hates? Why does God hate? In your house you may have two porcelain bowls. One is very ornate, and beautiful, when you serve your finest meal, you serve it in that bowl. The other bowl is the porcelain bowl in your bathroom. When you have finished digesting your meal it is useful. It serves a purpose, but it is not honoured in the same way. Paul’s point is the Maker of the House has the right to determine the purpose for all His people—one person for mercy and honour, another person has purpose and is being prepared for destruction (see Romans 9:19-23—seriously, I’ll wait while you look it up). Troubling isn’t it? Well, I think it is only troubling for those whom God has chosen. They desire then, all the more, to be obedient to God, to respond to His love with ever deeper love and commitment which is based on awe and thankfulness at His mercy directed toward them. Those appointed for wrath and destruction will act in ways that are consistent with their purpose.

Father of justice and wrath, love and mercy, Your ways are higher than our ways, Your thoughts higher than ours. Great are You and worthy of praise. Thank You for the grand and universe-changing demonstration of Your love, given in Christ Jesus, Your Only, Beloved Son, our Savior. Thank You for the gift of the Spirit in Whom is all our hope guarded and kept secure. Triune God, prompt us to declare the love of Jesus far and wide, to close family and co-workers, and to pray about and fund missionary work to the ends of the earth, so that Your people will be gathered in from the nations. Thank You for Your love, which does not rise and fall, get stronger and brown out, but is steady as the succession of day and night. Increase our capacity to receive Your love and then to reflect love back to You and love to this world, doing so until Jesus returns. Amen.

https://youtu.be/oEUskp1e2bg?si=24nMZ2xa1nxJZ6uB “By Faith” Praise The Acapella Company

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.