ROMANS 9

In my sequential reading of Paul's writing, my chapter for today is Romans 9. I was thrilled with the timely reminders in yesterdays reading - Chapter 8, where we are reminded of God's unfailing love: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" What a reminder of God's amazing love!

Today's chapter is compelling in a different way. In the first few verses Paul says he would be willing to be cut off from Christ if by doing that he could gain the salvation of his Jewish race. Verses 4 & 5 leap off the page at me. Paul says, "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ (the Messiah) who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (ESV)"

The words are a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty, and of His mercy in extending the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ to those outside the Jewish faith. I am intentionally using the word faith instead of race, for this chapter makes it very clear that those who are true sons of Abraham, are those who are sons by faith.

This does not exclude Israel. Israel has not been bypassed or usurped in God's divine plan. It is still the center of the world, and the center of God's heart. We, as Gentiles, are adopted in. I'm grateful for that adoption as a child of God, dearly loved, grafted in. But it also makes me pay attention.

I get terribly uneasy every time political leaders fail to stand up for Israel. God is Israel's protector - and anyone who stands against her is defying Almighty God. If we as a country fail to pay attention to that and if we do not stand up for Israel, we will reap the consequences. The handwriting is on the wall. We are living in the days when men call evil good, and good evil.

If you want to know whether the Lord's return is drawing near: watch Israel!