Daily Reading: 8-4-16
Romans 9:1-9 New Living Translation (NLT)
This world seems to be filled with leaders who throw out empty promises in order to get ahead. I wish they understood the magnitude of this deception; making promises that one never intends (or is not able) to keep is sowing seed in the wrong soil. I am still a firm believer that a promise is a promise. If I promise to do something for someone, I need to follow through as best I can because I am a child of Promise. My word to someone else needs to be sown in integrity, because I want to spiritually reap from the promises of God. Even though I have had to break a promise before, God never breaks His promise to us. What does God promise to do? He promises to make us His children if we are willing to repent and turn from our own way to follow Christ’s way with our lives. In other words, for those who are born from God above, practice His righteousness, and seeks to love his/her neighbor, God makes them His spiritual seed or child of Promise. We are sown in spiritual soil to produce a harvest.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul is concerned about his Jewish brothers and sisters who continue to reject Christ. It is their belief simply being physical descendants of Abraham is what makes them a child of Promise. He explains it is not a matter of physical ancestry; rather, it is a matter of spiritual ancestry. I call it a spiritual connection. We are children of Promise when we take God at His Word and live by spiritual Guidance and Power (the Holy Spirit). Beyond this one beautiful promise from Father God, we find a lifetime of spiritual potential and blessings as our inheritance. We have to be willing to live as children of Promise; our lives guided by His Word.
Romans 9:1-9 God’s Selection of Israel
1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
6 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! 7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,”though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me your promise of enjoying eternal life with you. Help me to stay on the righteous path as I find my way in your love and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.