Romans 9:14-21

In 1970 Flip Wilson told us “The devil made me do it.” Paul is writing to Jews who knew Mr. Wilson was wrong.  They were convinced God makes us do it.  Their thinking went like this.  1) God is the creator of the universe.  2) God is all-powerful.  3) Therefore, everything that happens is God’s responsibility.  Having reasoned everything out, they reached a conclusion that left them feeling secure.  If it is God’s will, he cannot blame us.  After all, who can resist God’s will?  They were sure that it was God’s will to save all the Jews.

There are people today who call themselves Christians that think the same way.  God is all-powerful.  Nothing can happen unless He makes it happen; therefore, he will only save those he has chosen.  Their God is not big enough to create humanity with freewill.  They say we have free will, but we can only will what God wants us to.

Half-truths are dangerous things.  Knowing and believing only half the truth results in Self-deception.  It is true that no one can resist God’s will.  It is also true that it is God’s will that everyone make his or her own choice.  Denying that we have a choice to make, or complaining that it is not fair does not change the reality.  We are more than just common clay.  God created us as clay that must choose to place ourselves into the hands of the potter.  If we do not choose to allow God to shape us, the pressures of the world and our own unrighteousness will shape us.

When we place ourselves into the hands of God, he will shape some for special purpose and ministry and others he will shape for a more common life.  In all cases, it is only in the hands of God that we will find true fulfillment.  Even as God works to shape our lives, we are not free from responsibility.  God never works alone.  Only when we work with God can He shape our brightest future.