Romans 9 is about Israel’s rejection. We can apply verse 20 to ourselves. It says, “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 thus?”

2 Timothy 2:20 says that in a great house there are vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of clay ~ some for honor and some for dishonor. Verse 21 says, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Our progressive sanctification is the work of God’s pressure. His design is to remove the dross from our lives through our trials. Romans 5:3 Amplified says, “Moreover (let us also be full of joy now!) let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.”

Our trial’s pressures are designed to develop character. How is your attitude in your trials? Does it exemplify the Lord to those around you?