Daily Bread 2010 - Romans 11
Daily Bread 2010 - Romans 11
The Remnant of Israel
1I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? 4And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see
and ears so that they could not hear,
to this very day." 9And David says:
"May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever."
Sometimes we feel like Elijah thinking, “Am I the only one left that hasn’t bowed down to the gods of the culture today.” Fortunately the church is a place where you can gather with others, who have not bowed down. We all face pressure to cave in to cultural demands to compromise the truth.
Whether this is in our offices to cut a few corners to get to that bottom line that will get us the year end bonus, or to the god of materialism that says, “The one that dies with the most toys wins.” What is so helpful about this verse is that if you are a believer in Jesus, God has set you apart as his “remnant” that will be faithful to the end.
Before we could choose God, He chose us to be part of His kingdom coming here on earth as it is in heaven. And importantly this call is by and through His grace given to us (v.6). We didn’t do anything to deserve this call it is unconditionally God’s call on our lives. All God asks for is the proper response.
Paul’s response was to be used to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, even though He was a Jew. Paul broke with his cultural past (his family) in order to be an ambassador for the Good News. I’m sure it wasn’t easy but once Paul set his mind and heart to it there was no turning back no matter what the cost.
What is god calling you to break ties with so you can serve him with greater passion and commitment? Do you realize that you are one of ______ thousand that God has chosen to carry out His purposes and plan? How does that make you feel?
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us to be your ambassadors for the movement you started 2,000 years ago. Like Paul, give us a sense of urgency to transmit the Good News to those you call us to share it with. When we are tempted to bow down to the baals of our age, remind us that we are set apart and chosen, a remnant of Your Son’s presence in the world. In His name we pray, Amen.
The Remnant of Israel
1I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? 4And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see
and ears so that they could not hear,
to this very day." 9And David says:
"May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever."
Sometimes we feel like Elijah thinking, “Am I the only one left that hasn’t bowed down to the gods of the culture today.” Fortunately the church is a place where you can gather with others, who have not bowed down. We all face pressure to cave in to cultural demands to compromise the truth.
Whether this is in our offices to cut a few corners to get to that bottom line that will get us the year end bonus, or to the god of materialism that says, “The one that dies with the most toys wins.” What is so helpful about this verse is that if you are a believer in Jesus, God has set you apart as his “remnant” that will be faithful to the end.
Before we could choose God, He chose us to be part of His kingdom coming here on earth as it is in heaven. And importantly this call is by and through His grace given to us (v.6). We didn’t do anything to deserve this call it is unconditionally God’s call on our lives. All God asks for is the proper response.
Paul’s response was to be used to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, even though He was a Jew. Paul broke with his cultural past (his family) in order to be an ambassador for the Good News. I’m sure it wasn’t easy but once Paul set his mind and heart to it there was no turning back no matter what the cost.
What is god calling you to break ties with so you can serve him with greater passion and commitment? Do you realize that you are one of ______ thousand that God has chosen to carry out His purposes and plan? How does that make you feel?
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us to be your ambassadors for the movement you started 2,000 years ago. Like Paul, give us a sense of urgency to transmit the Good News to those you call us to share it with. When we are tempted to bow down to the baals of our age, remind us that we are set apart and chosen, a remnant of Your Son’s presence in the world. In His name we pray, Amen.
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