Tag: mercy on all
Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Scripture reading for May 30th: Romans 11, Psalm 107, Proverbs 14
Romans 11: 32-36 “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
Paul ends his discourse on his desire for the salvation of his own people, the Jews, with this summary and worship. God’s wisdom is wiser than any human wisdom. His knowledge and understanding of man and his deepest needs stretches human ability to comprehend. Because of the darkness of sin over the human mind and soul, there is no man who has not sinned and who is able to advise God! There is nothing we can do or give to God to repay Him, because He has created it all and owns it all! All we can do is worship Him for His amazing grace and His work on our behalf through creation and the cross!
Psalm 107:19-21 “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing my cry and the cries of the disobedient and hurting throughout our history. Thank You for providing the answer to my greatest need, Your mercy given as a gift of grace through Your Son Jesus Christ! I humbly accept all You have provided and honor You with holy reverence and worship! Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done for all who call upon Your Name! Amen!
Proverbs 14:30 “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
To Him Be Glory Forever!
Scripture reading for November 22nd: Romans 9-11
Paul, the author of Romans, was a devout Jew before his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. His Jewish roots were never forgotten and Paul had a heart for his own brothers’ salvation. His understanding of God’s plans for Israel is an amazing revelation from the Holy Spirit. As Gentile Christians, it is helpful for us to carefully study Paul’s teaching in Romans 9-11.
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1) Paul passionately wanted to see his brothers saved. He knew how they sought to keep the law and establish their own righteousness, because he himself had done just that. Paul knew that the Jews were a stubborn and disobedient people who were hardened because they had rejected Christ. They should have been the first to understand that righteousness would come by faith.
Paul preached the message of faith in Christ to his own people. He told them that they must confess with their mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead and they would be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) The way of faith was the same for Jews as for Gentiles. Faith would come by choosing to hear and believe the message of Christ. God desired all to be saved, but those who rejected the message would be lost.
Paul also warned the Gentiles not to become proud but to consider the kindness of God towards them and the possibility of God’s sternness coming upon them if they fell away from faith. (Romans 11:17-23) “I do not want you ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, . .” (Romans 11:25-26a)
Paul closes this discussion with worship! “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:33-36) God works everything out for His Glory in ways man cannot fully understand!