Today's Meditation - Thursday, July 9, 2020

Today's Meditation

Read Romans 9:20, 21

²⁰But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?

     The passage that surrounds these verses is quite complicated and full of meaning, but a great deal of it needs long explanation and discussion.  It is too much for a simple meditation, so I want us to concentrate on just these two verses today.

     "But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God?  Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, 'Why have you made me like this?'  Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?"

     I'm going to take the author of this text to task for a moment.  I don't believe, in God's eyes, that any human being is simply ordinary or that any human being is created to be special.  I believe that it is with human eyes that we separate the two creations - some to the realm of being special and some to the realm of being ordinary.  We see with human eyes the works and the contribution of certain individuals as extraordinary, such as Malala Yousafzai, Albert Einstein, Rosalind Franklin, Aristotle, Marie Curie, Leonardo DaVinci and the list could go on.  These are people of note for extraordinary things they believed, discovered, or stood for.  They accomplished great things and their names are written in the annals of history.  But there are countless human beings whose lives are lived without being written in the history books, yet they too are extraordinary works of uniqueness, created in the image of God.

     I remember growing up and reading about some of these great people in history and wanting to be like them.  I dreamt of being the youngest author or a person who discovered some amazing new creature, or being the first person to go to Mars, or whatever.  Years ago, I resigned myself to the reality that my name would not be written in the history books for anything.  My name would not be remembered for generations to come because of my beliefs or what I discovered or what I stood for.  At first, that was a depressing thought.  But then I remembered that my name is indeed written in the only book that matters, it is written in the Book of Life that is authored by God.  God knows the number of every hair on my head.  God knows me by name.  And that is true of every human being.

     We are all created to be special.  We have a purpose and a role to play in the tapestry of life that God weaves.  I do agree with the author in this, "Who are we to question that purpose?"  But, we are to question whether or not we are fulfilling it.  What is it?  What is your purpose in life?  Ask God for direction if you do not know it.  May God's purpose be worked out in your life and may you fulfill your destiny.

God is Working His Purpose Out  This is one of my favorite hymns.  I've included the words below.

1 God is working his purpose out,
as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

2 From utmost east to utmost west,
wherever feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God,
'Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.'

3 What can we do to work God's work,
to prosper and increase
the love of God in all mankind,
the reign of the Prince of peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea?

4 March we forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world;
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin,
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

5 All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.