Romans 9

Romans 9

"16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.  19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"

Romans 9 can be pretty tough to swallow.  Since our relationship with God isn't based on anything we do.  We can't get mad at God when we aren't being used the way we want to.

One thing I've learned recently is that God is all about God.  God desires that HIS name and His name ALONE be glorified.  Sometimes that isn't my focus when doing things for God.  As a worship leader, it's easy to focus more on my musicianship and not my role as an usher to bring people in to the presence of God.  When I lose sight of my real role as a greeter for God's presence, I get distracted by  focusing on things like hitting/singing the right notes.  Those things are important but they are not important enough to keep me from entering into worship.

Not only should God's glory be our number 1 focus, it should also be our number 1 desire.  Since we can't boast in anything we do, we shouldn't get jealous when someone else receives earthly glory for something they do for God.  God didn't call everyone to be rich, God didn't call everyone to be famous, God didn't call anyone to live for their own glory.  John the Baptist said it best "He must increase and I must decrease."

Again, God's timing is perfect.  As I'm typing this (it's currently 2:45am), I'm sitting by the front doors of my church with the responsibility to open them for anyone that wants to come in and pray. The only other person in the building is Bryan, the youth pastor, who is currently in the youth room praying to keep our 24/7 prayer week going.  Neither of us are doing this to boast or get any recognition. We are doing it to bring glory to God.

I guess I've come to the realization that God doesn't care about my reputation as much as I do.  When I become a youth pastor, I might have a youth group of 12 students, but if those 12 students are the ones God has instructed me to lead, then I will be satisfied with giving them everything I've got.

And I guess in the end, we all worship God as equals.  In heaven we are all going to be praising Him, everyone from the Christian rock star to the guy who cleans the toilets at his church.


So, I guess I need to be more willing to be used by God for the sole purpose of bringing Him glory.  I need to come before God and say "Here I am Lord, send me."  Whatever it is that God has me do, no matter how big or small, His name will be glorified.

I guess that's it tonight,

Thanks for reading, JDWayt