Tues.'s Devo - Chosen

Read Ro. 11: 1-15
For some reason this chapter is a controversial chapter. He starts out defending the Jew and saying that God is not through with the Jew and that there are always going to be a remnant of Jews that believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Elijah complained to God that he was the only prophet who served him and God informed him that he had 7,000 other prophets hidden away. God always has a remnant because he created them. He creates some people for good and some for bad, but all are for his purpose. I guess this bothers us because we still want to think that we had something to do with our salvation. No, it is a gift of grace. We can't even come to Jesus unless he draws us. Jesus said not to give holy things to dogs, and not to cast your pearls before swine, or they will trample these pearls under their feet and turn and shatter you. So what are we suppose to do? The next thing Jesus said was to ask, and it would be given to us; seek, and we will find; and knock and the door would be opened to us. So we ask for discernment to know who are the sheep and who are the swine. Then we are to seek God's will and direction. Once we get that then we can knock on the doors of their heart and they will be opened. If we walk in the spirit God will bring across our paths the ones we are to pour into. It is not up to us to get anyone 'saved'. We are a link in the chain and we just need to play our part. There is a "selection of grace". Hitler was right about a supreme race he just had it a little twisted.
Verse 7 tells us that not all Jews received Jesus as the Messiah. Some did, but some were blinded. Notice who blinded them: God. He put them to sleep spiritually so that they wouldn't be able to see him or hear him. David added the curse that they would be snared, trapped and caused to stumble and have their eyes darkened. But God works everything to good so their falling away led to the Gentiles coming in. God always has a remnant. Jews have always had the ability to get rich so when they fell under God's wrath their wealth went to the world and their spiritual wealth went to the Gentiles. If this happened when they fell, what will happen when they return? God set them aside to reconcile the world to him but when he receives back his chosen people it will be like bringing the dead back to life.
Lord, we pray for your children yet to come in. Help us to be longsuffering and patient with our friend who have not yet come in to your grace. May we walk by the spirit and not try to force your plan.