Romans 9
Bible Passage: Romans 9
Because of Israel’s rejection of Christ, Paul wrote this with great sorrow and grief in his heart.
“For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” Verse 3
Paul had such deep feelings towards his brethren. Do we similarly have such strong feelings towards our brothers and sisters? When we see members we know straying off the path of God, do we feel troubled and worried as well?
Lately, I have been facing some issues that are hard to bear and I feel as though I am spiralling away from God. But God had mercy, He sent a handful of church members whom i share close friendships with, to rebuke, counsel, comfort and most importantly empathise and pray with me.
At times I am so amazed by the continual support and encouragements from the Scriptures that I received. When I feel their concern and anxiety, the last thing I want is to disappoint them and waste their efforts. I want to use this opportunity to thank them for not giving up and pulling me back before i drift away into the abyss of sin.
It makes a huge difference to someone facing trials and tribulations when s/he has spiritual reinforcements from church brethren.
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Verses 20-21
To mold a piece of clay, the potter first has to add water to make it soft and pliable enough. The Word of God is like water, we need God’s word flowing through us before He could mold or transform us.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, our part is to get into His Word, to read and understand what is written in the bible. If we spend enough time trying to read and understand, we can see how these teachings could be applied to our daily lives.
To want God to first mold and shape us into the kind of person pleasing to Him, we must take the initial step by spending reasonable time reading the bible so as to incorporate His Word into our daily lives and walk with the Lord. We have to be willing to do our part before God could alter us.
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biblereadingcompanion
I think today’s sharing is very apt as we prepare for the Spiritual Meeting that starts tonight.
We always talk about the Spiritual Meeting being a time to refresh & recharge ourselves spiritually. And it is also a time to renew our spiritual fellowship with our fellow brethren. The reminder that we can be of strong support and encouragement to our brothers and sisters is timely.
The imagery of the potter and the clay also reminds me that when I come for the Spiritual Meeting, I must come with a heart that is willing to be changed by the Lord for His use.
It is no use coming to Church – joining all the prayers, listening to all the sermons and singing all the hymns… when our hearts are not ready to be molded in the way He wants for honor.
So let us come prepared to be molded. See you at the Spiritual Meeting!
And I can’t resist sharing one song…. “The Potter’s Hand” (:
Ping An.
Chin Mun loong
For the spiritual meeting beginning tonight, it is vital that we be of one heart to trust in and worship the Lord Jesus as His church. Let’s all put aside any thing that separates us from the love of God and any individual issue that hinders us on this occasion from being one. Seek the grace of our Lord Jesus that enables us to grow in faith and in our service to Him.
PS
Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness has not attained to the law of righteousness.
Why?
Bec they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
To the Israelites, the Stone has become a stumbling stone bec they seek a reward by their works of the laws. Paul explained previously that Now that to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” (Romans 4:4)
To the non-Israelites, the Stone has becoming a building stone on whom they believe and will not put to shame. (Romans 9:33)
Romans 9:1 For I could wish that I myself were accused from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.
Paul’s lamentation was that even if he wishes to make the exchange, he knew it could not be accomplished bec Lord Jesus is the only propitiation for sins. And God will not exchange one child’s life for another’s life, except Jesus’ which was accomplished.
Why was there only 8 in the Ark? Bec only 8 believed.
If God could accommodate all the animals in the Ark, He could definitely accommodate 8×10, 8X100, 8X1000….
The crux is none other believed and repented, not that God does not want to save (2 Pet 3:9).
The power and grace of God can embrace everyone who believes in Him through all times and space.
It is not a zero-sum situation. It is a all-in-all-win situation.