Daily Word

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will.” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? Romans 9:19-21. By what right can God lay the blame for their sins on those He has hardened against Himself? Paul answers partially in terms of human experience. It is unreasonable and irreverent for anyone to question the righteousness of God’s ways. Potters have every right to do as they please with the clay. All belong to “the same lump” of fallen humanity in Adam; all actively sin even before God hardens them in sinning. That God should show mercy to any from the Adamic lump and create vessels of honor from it is the kindness of grace; that others should become vessels for lesser use is a matter of His sovereign prerogative and is itself a display of perfect justice towards them. It doesn’t mean we give up on those around us; we keep preaching the gospel and living a Christ like example. However, recognize also that without His sovereign justice His love would lack merit and His grace would be cheap.