Daily Reading 2-6-17
Romans 11:2-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
Happy Monday to you all! Thank you so much for a wonderful birthday brunch at the church today; it was a delight sharing my celebration with all of you. You blessed me.
Over the years I have listened to people talk about whether or not God was done with the Jews. Has the church replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people? Let’s turn to Scripture to answer that question…
Romans 11:2-10
2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say,
“God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
and closed their ears so they do not hear.”
Prayer: Father, your Word teaches you have brought a spiritual blindness to the Jews until the full number of Gentiles (non-Jews) have responded to the gospel. Thank you for loving the Jews and for loving the rest of us, too. Glory be to you, O Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.