“My Covenant”

…and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.  Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.  For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:26-36

The apostle Paul wanted fellow Jews to embrace the Messiah he had encountered. But Paul was rejected by his fellow Jews. But there was one positive thing that happened. Because the Jews would not accept Paul it may have made it a little easier to get the Gentiles to come to Jesus. Years later, today, there are millions of Jews, but billions of Christians.

The Jews rejection of Jesus led to his acceptance by the Gentiles.

Paul concluded that God hadn’t rejected the Jews; to the contrary, they had the same opportunity as Gentiles. God had widened, not closed, the embrace of humanity.

Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint.

Our Daily Bread – February 12, 2012