25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[c] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Very interesting first line of this scripture. Israel was hardened so that we (Gentiles) may come to Christ. Which makes sense. A portion of the Jews at the time of Christ's death persecuted the new Christians so that they fled to other parts of the world and therefore spread the gospel of Christ. If the Jews had accepted the gospel and not persecuted the new Christians might not have spread the good news beyond their borders.
What else is interesting is that there seems to be a set number of gentiles that are going to come to Christ and until that number is fulfilled Israel will remain hardened against the gospel.
So I wonder, if all of this junk that is constantly happening over in Israel would cease if the last gentile came to Christ? Probably not. The only thing that will bring peace in the middle east is Christ coming back.
I found verse 29 interesting as well. God's gifts and call are irrevocable. We cannot turn back the gifts that He has given to us, nor can we turn back the call He has placed on our lives. I've seen that. When a person has a call on their lives from the Lord and they do not act on it, the person withers There is no "NO" to the Lord.
We have been given a gift and a calling in that gift. We have been given the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ and through that acceptance of that gift we have accepted the calling to spread that good news to others. I need to work better at fulfilling my calling to spread the good news.
Lord God, you have given us a wonderful gift of new life, of eternal life. May we not be quiet or shy in our sharing it to others. May we not be selfish. And Lord God help us to share it, help us to spread it so that your kingdom may be complete and that you return. Give us boldness, give us courage and give us the words to speak. We love you Father and we are so grateful for your sacrifice and love towards us. Amen.
1 comment:
So true Kathryn, thank you.
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