What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
You may have noticed that cereal boxes, once cardboard, are now no thicker than construction paper we used in art class. To me, they have become “vessels of wrath”. That would be to entirely miss Paul’s point though. Man became vessels of wrath to God because they rebelled against God and deserve to be discarded like flimsy cereal boxes but God made another plan. The vessels of wrath would be made into vessels of mercy by the Potter who made them. This chapter tells us that those vessels of mercy were chosen by God in his sovereign power from Jews and Gentiles as he pleased. We have no other response than worship for his mercy.
Paul’s rhetorical question is a good one for us to answer today. What if God decided to send his Son to the cross to save you? Would you worship him? Would you reject him because you think he is doing it wrong in saving some and not all? Is he unfair? Today, rest in the fact that he has not treated you fairly because fairness would be complete and immediate destruction. Instead, he showed you mercy. Our response is worship.
Dear Lord, thank you for your mercy and for choosing us as your vessels of mercy. May we gather together this Sunday to worship you for that and so many other blessings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church