Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (NRSV)
Read Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 11I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. Verse 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? Verse 29for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Verse 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, Verse 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. Verse 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
Devotion
One of my favorite books is In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen. In this book, Nouwen reflects on the temptation of Christ and how those temptations play out in Christian leadership.
Christian leaders are tempted to be relevant – but our call is to point to Christ, not ourselves. We are tempted to be spectacular, but “We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life” (p. 61). We are tempted to be powerful, but St. Paul reminds us in II Cor. 12, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” In Jesus, God chose mercy.
St. Paul could have chosen to cling to his history or his credentials. Instead he clung to the promises of Jesus Christ, for “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Prayer
Lord, our gifts and callings are irrevocable. Thank you for your promise of mercy and love. Amen.