Romans 9:1-24
Friday, 13 December 2024
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” -Romans 9:15
Today’s reading gives us one more opportunity to lift up our hearts and voices in thanksgiving and praise to God for His immeasurable mercies shown toward us who were objects of wrath. Being enemies to God because of our sin, we were objects of His wrath but in the riches of His glory, we have become objects of His mercy. What changed our position from being the rejected to becoming the chosen? His Sovereign Act of Mercy!
God’s promise helps us become His children[Vs 8]: Jews had every reason to be absolutely sure of an unconditional choice as people of God, as it was through them the world received the laws and the covenants and they were the unique race through which Christ was to be born (V.5). Yet Paul says, that they failed to receive His mercy in spite of all their external qualifications. The failed because they rejected the salvation of God offered to them through His Son, Christ Jesus.
Then who could receive this mercy?
Paul goes on to explain as to how Abraham though had many children, yet God’s promise to the world was to be fulfilled only through Isaac the promised son. So Isaac was accepted not because of his physical birth but because of the promise over his life. Likewise you and I are accepted only in His promise that all those who turn to him will be saved. John 1:11&12 says [NLT] “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” Today you and I with no credentials under our belt have received such a great salvation. God extended His Mercy to us that our identity in Him is not because of our race but because of His Promise.
God’s Call qualifies us to experience His Love [Vs 13]: Our focus all through our earthy lives is how to please God through our works. But Paul in Romans 3 tells us that all of us are sinners and can receive nothing from God. When this is our standing before God, is there any way for us to understand His great love? Our sin hinders us from receiving His love. But Ephesians 2:4 says: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…” His call over our lives changed everything, that today through Christ we are qualified to receive every blessing that is in Christ Jesus. It’s not our work, but His work of mercy showered into our lives.
What God has done in our lives is His Sovereign Will. Now that we have received this grace all we can do is thank Him for His work in our lives and live every day for Him. If you still have not accepted His unmerited favour, do not harden your heart. As 2 Peter 3:9 says “God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” Do not delay! Receive His mercy!
Quote for the day: “God is more willing to pardon than to punish. Mercy does more multiply in Him than sin in us. Mercy is His nature." - Thomas Watson
Listen: 'Your mercy'
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