Fri.’s Devo - For God So Loved the World…

Read Romans 11:1-11 God’s plan from the beginning has been to save the world, but he chose the Jewish nation to show how he deals with those who are his own. Being a Jew didn’t guarantee their salvation - trusting in God did. Just because they rebelled against God doesn’t mean that He gave up on his people. Paul explains that he is a Jew and he believes in Jesus even though most of the Jews didn’t. He compares it to the time of Elijah when he complained to God that he was the only prophet left serving him in 1 Kings 19:10. God’s reply was that there were 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Then he told Paul that he was not the only Jew that was a Christian, but God had a remnant of people who believed Him according to the law of grace. I have to remind myself of that, like when I join a new gym, move to a new city or start a new job. God has his people everywhere. Sometimes we just need to let our light shine so that others of like-minds can see it and come to us. Maybe they think they are the only ones that are believers. The only way we will know is if we are bold in our conversation and actions. Looking back at Romans, only the Jews that were chosen obtained grace, the rest have been blinded by the spirit of slumber. Their spiritual eyes and ears have been closed by God. God did this so that through their fall, the Gentiles could come in. When the Jews see the Gentiles fall in love with their God and believe in Him it will provoke them to want to know him again. It is all a part of God’s plan to bring redemption to the whole world. Lord, may our lives be an example to everyone we meet of how we love you.