Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 9:22-33.  Let’s go!

Romans 9:22-23 (NIV)
22  What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath–prepared for destruction?
23  What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—
 
On verses 22-23:  According to Paul, God doesn’t wipe out instantly those whom He didn’t choose for salvation (“the objects of his wrath”); rather “with great patience” (v22) God bears with them and allows them to live for a while.  Why does God do that?  Paul suggests God does this “to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy”; in other words, somehow by bearing with those who are not His people for a while, God is showing to those who are His people how great and glorious He is.  How so?  Maybe it’s that by not coming down in wrath right away on those God has not chosen, God is showing His people that He is patient, tolerant, not in a rush, and still willing to use those who are not chosen for at least some good, so that their existence is not completely for naught.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 9:14-21.  Let’s go!

Romans 9:14-21 (NIV)
14  What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
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  It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18  Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19  One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?”
20  But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?'”
21  Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

On verses 14-21:  If it is God who chooses in advance who will be saved and who won’t be, then how can God blame those of us who don’t believe in Him? When we looked yesterday at Romans 9:1-13 I shared with you one reason why we cannot accuse God of being unfair for choosing in advance to save some and not others. 

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 9:1-13.  Let’s go!

Romans 9:1-3 (NIV)
1  I speak the truth in Christ–I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit–
2  I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
 
On verses 1-3:  Here Paul expresses how much it hurts his heart to see that many of his own fellow Israelites have chosen to reject Jesus as their Saviour (Messiah) and how much he wishes that they would know Jesus personally. 

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 8:18-30.  Let’s go!

Romans 8:18 (NIV)
18  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
 
On verse 18:  In the verse right before this one, Paul says that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ “if we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (v17).  Now here Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  So what sufferings is Paul referring to?  Even though Jesus already suffered on the cross for us and paid the price in full so we could be forgiven, Jesus also says that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33).  So whenever you go through trials and hardships while living for Jesus, just remember that the suffering you’re going through is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in you in the end.  Let the hope of future glory keep you in the fight and help you persevere through present hardship.  As Paul says 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  Trouble today is preparation for glory tomorrow.