ERCC DEVOTIONAL (TEKAN) DAILY SPIRITUAL DIET; WEDNESDAY, 25TH OCTOBER 2023
TEXT: ROMANS 9: 1 - 18.
SPIRITUAL FOCUS: PAUL'S CONCERN FOR THE JEWS.
For his part, the apostle Paul was deeply concerned about his brothers, Jews, who were once enemies of the way of Christ Jesus. He loves them so much that He wants them to be saved. So, in all his travels to preach the gospel, they are constantly on his mind.
So, wherever he went he preached to them first. As he does so, they sometimes allow him to enter the synagogue, but they do not do it because of his preaching. This made him angry and stopped preaching to them. Instead of reminding them, they are chosen by God to be the foundation of His word and of Christ's coming into the world.
But they did not believe this, their claim to be Abraham's children was in vain because anyone by faith could become Abraham's son. Notice, the word of the Lord God says that "not everyone who calls me Lord! Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven...." (Matthew 7: 21).
Today, like Paul, we must be zealous for the salvation of our brothers and sisters who have not yet received Christ. Preaching the gospel of salvation to the lost is the work that the Lord Jesus left us. Therefore, we must work hard so that He does not come back and require their blood from us. If that happens, then we will face serious consequences.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Saving the lost is our responsibility.
PRAYER: Lord God, I beseech You, give me the spirit of earnestly seeking salvation for the lost in the name of Jesus, Amen.
ROMANS 9: 1 - 18 (ESV).
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”
10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
