Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 10:12-21.  Let’s go!

Romans 10:12-13 (NIV)
12  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
 
On verses 12-13:  “There is no difference” – in other words, regardless of your background, as long as you call on Jesus’ name to save you, you will be saved.  That is why Jesus is Lord over the largest and most racially, culturally, linguistically, economically and demographically diverse family that has ever existed: His church.  The moment you receive Jesus, in the grand scheme of things, you have more in common with your brothers and sisters in Christ living in other parts of the world than your unsaved next door neighbour. 

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.