August 8, 2010

Romans 9:16-33
I went through elementary school in a small town. We had less than 200 students in the whole school system 1st-12th grade. Consequently there was a much greater connection of the community with the school system. In the community was an older gentleman named Mr. Hesser. We all called him the candy man. He would show up about once a month and give every child in the grade school a piece of candy. It was a thrill to see him coming. Our outer classroom walls were almost all windows. You could count on the first child to see him to call out, "The Candy Man!" General squeals of delight would then erupt.
Sometimes the pieces of candy were all the same for every child and sometimes there was a variety in what he gave. There was never any argument over somebody else getting a different kind of candy. We all knew that he was giving to each of us out of his own goodness. Just because someone else got something different from him was not a cause of complaint against him. Once or twice a couple of children might exchange with each other what they received from him. But we were all grateful for what we had received. The teacher made sure we all sang out in chorus as he left, "Thank you, Mr. Hesser!" He delighted in giving. None of us had done anything for him making us deserving of the candy. He gave because he delighted in giving. To my knowledge, he had no grandchildren or great grand children in the school. He just delighted in giving. To this day I have never done anything for Mr. Hesser that made me deserving of the candy I received. My receiving was all rooted in his giving.
The first time that I was in the class room when Mr. Hesser came, I refused to receive the candy. I was in second grade. I had been taught to never take candy from a stranger. My teacher came over and said, "It’s alright, John. He's not a stranger. You can take the candy. Your mother won't be upset." Then I received it.
The Lord Jesus is sovereign in His giving. There is nothing in us that compels Him to give. He could condemn us all to death, and He would be just in so doing, for we have truly sinned against Him. And our sin is worthy of death. But He desires rather to give us mercy. He is rich in mercy. He delights in pouring it upon us. It is all about Him. He delights in making us part of His family. Many are those who will not receive His gift. He is righteous in pouring His wrath upon them. They act as though mercy is unneeded. Whether then, He gives mercy or He gives wrath, He is righteous in what He does. Our response to Him should be to simply cling to Him in faith. Whoever clings to Him in faith will never be put to shame. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John