Romans 9:1-5 (NRSV)
Read Romans 9:1-5 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 9I am speaking the truth in Christ-I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit- Verse 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Verse 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. Verse 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; Verse 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Devotion
Paul's epistle to the Romans has been the source of renewal throughout the history of the church, largely due to the apostle's emphasis on the good news that our righteousness comes through faith apart from works of the law. In other words, the gifts of God in Christ are dependent solely upon the action of God's love for us in Christ. But this news also leads Paul into a thorny, sorrowful place. What of his own people? What of Israel, which has largely not believed in Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah? In chapters 9-11, Paul wrestles with this question. Saddened as he is that Israel has yet to believe in Christ, he refuses to give up on the grace of a promising, covenantal God. Paul looks to the future, when his own people will come into the grace of God through Jesus Christ, and all Israel will be saved. If God has adopted them, what can undo this grace?
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for being a God who chooses. As you long ago chose Israel, so now you have chosen us. Thank you that we are not chosen because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. Amen.