God of light, shine brightly in the corners of darkness and need in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is today's text from Romans 9: 10-29
10 Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. 11 Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose of election might continue, 12 not by works but by his call) she was told, "The elder shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau." 14 What then are we to say? 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 it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses. 19 You will say to me then, "Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction; 23 and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--24 including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hose'a, "Those who were not my people I will call "my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call "beloved.'" 26 "And in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people,' there they shall be called children of the living God." 27 And Isai'ah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively." 29 And as Isai'ah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left survivors to us, we would have fared like Sod'om and been made like Gomor'rah."
When it comes to someone in our family not believing, it really hurts. You can understand Paul's enthusiastic defense of God in these passages because of his family's rejection of God's work in Jesus Christ. His Bible was filled with bibical references to incredible and wonderful things God had done on behalf of his family, and yet, they turned away from God and from Jesus Christ. He lists births where there shouldn't have been life at all. He lists compassion where there shouldn't have been. He even lists those who suffered as a result of their own actions. Through it all Paul declares, God is in control.
We can't sit down after reading this morning's devotional and script out what is going to happen today and expect it to happen just because we want it to. If you want a good laugh go back and see some of my "to-do" lists. I love the sign, and it's probably buried somewhere on my desk-of-no-return that says, "God put me on this earth to accomplish some things and I'm so far behind I'll never die" or something to that effect. Paul says, we need to trust God and accept what God has, is, and will do on our behalf because of God's great love for us. I love how Paul says you never hear the clay talking back to the potter; the potter is in complete control of each project, and in the same way, God is in control of us and how we will be shaped according to His purpose in our lives.
Take time right now to enjoy the touch of God's fingers at work on your body. God is smoothing out the rough edges and is make right the blemishes and marks that should not be on us. God is at work in our spirits making us exactly who we wants us to be, but we have to be still; we have to be obedient and trusting. You and I are works in progress. Make that wonderous works in progress!
PRAYER: Loving Potter, help me to sit obediently still while You finish me. I tend to fidget when I'm uneasy. I tend to want to run because I am impatient. I have a tendecy to be easily distracted. You work on me and help me realize that I attempt or have attempted relies only on Your strength and power, not mine. I pray this in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
