Tues., 8/19/14 Devotion (Rom. 9:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 9:20, where we read these words:

"But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have you made me like this?' "

Though God would have His own sincere Christian churchmen be very gut-wrenchingly candid with Him, and tell Him everything in their hearts, and lay everything bare before Him--the Lord does *not* entertain complaints about *why* He has made particular people in one way or another.

Even when it comes to His sovereign election, (which is the immediate con-text of Rom. 9:20), we are not allowed to "reply against God." Of course, no one cares whether they please God, or not, until they are actually regenerat-ed (or born again). Therefore, it is especially ill-suited for God's redeemed people to quarrel with the Lord, as to why He elects some sinners to life in Christ, and does not choose others.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Without Christ's Spirit the soul is in confusion, with-out beauty and form . . . " --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]