I have been working hard at Lampstand Press lately, and my quiet times are a lovely oasis in an otherwise grueling schedule.  Since I'm writing a new speech for our upcoming seminars, I've also been in Romans, which is always a delight.  There, I found myself immersed in this passage:

Romans 9:22-24 (ESV) 

    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, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 

What an amazing window into the true nature of the universe.  More than almost any other single thing, I am a vessel of mercy.  I am that, not because of anything I have done ever, but because God so decreed that I should be one.  He prepared me beforehand for glory.  It was by His mercy alone that I was not deemed to be a vessel of wrath.

This reminds me of another passage: 2 Cor. 4:7-12 (ESV) 
    But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death is at work in us, but life in you.

We are vessels, which means we carry something.  We are not the "something" itself, and very few people are more interested in a vessel than in what it contains.  People may, from time to time, exclaim, "Oh, what a pretty table!"  But it’s the stuff in the vessels that’s really wanted, not the vessels themselves.  They always end up the same after fulfilling their roles: dirty dishes in the sink, and not so pretty any more!  With beautiful vessels and no good things to feast upon, people would starve.  People will gladly turn to completely plain vessels if there is life-giving nourishment within.

So, we who know the grace of Christ are vessels of  His mercy; we have a precious treasure that we carry in our jars of clay…  wow.  What we are carrying, containing, filled with, and seeking to pour out, is mercy.  It’s the mercy God has shown us, yes, but more importantly, it’s His mercy that He wants to show others.  Earlier in Romans, Paul says, “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. Romans 1:14-15 (ESV).  His “obligation” is to give away what’s been entrusted to him.  We are vessels of mercy—God’s mercy, which is meant as soothing, healing balm on a battered and sin-sick world.  For a homeschooling mom, the most important people for me to show mercy to today are my family members: my husband and my children.

Lord, help me today to pour out Your mercy on others.  As I write, as I speak, as I listen, as I pray: Lord, let Your merciful grace be what pours forth from this unworthy, yet sanctified, vessel for Your pure and holy mercy. Let those I meet today be strengthened, encouraged, lifted up, and reminded that Your heart towards them is full of love, forgiveness in Jesus, and strengthening grace.  Amen.