“What is the Word for You?”

Scripture: Philippians 1: 12-20

What does the Bible mean for your life? Is it a God-given guide for your life, or is it just a great collection of stories about faith? Is it God’s command for our lives and the relationship that he offers to all of humanity, or is it a human creation that describes one of many possibilities for this life?

There seem to be many thoughts on what scripture means for humanity – from simply a nice collections of stories, to God’s inerrant word. But personally, if the Bible isn’t more than just a collection of great suggestions on how to live out this life, then why bother? It is certainly a historical record of humanity’s ins and outs, and ups and downs of faith, but it also gives us insight into God’s perfect will us, and the extent that he will go to create a way for us to spend eternity with him.

But is that even enough? Is there even more to this “word” that we know as the Bible?

Read Philippians 1:12-14

Paul doesn’t seem to have many concerns regarding his imprisonment – there is only joy over its serving to spread the gospel! No fear, no apprehension, no hatred, no surrender to the demands from the authorities and their ways in life. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite – he rejoices that his predicament is being used to spread the word about Jesus Christ. And he also rejoices that “because of his chains”, others have become bolder in proclaiming the life that comes from faith in Christ!

Isn’t that interesting! Paul has been using his imprisonment as a means to share the gospel with those who are charged with guarding him. The men who I have known in prison had nothing good to say about their Corrections Officers. The relationship that existed between them and their captors was all about suppression and security, and there was never even a half-hearted attempt to listen to the inmate or to make life a little more pleasant for them. And the only communications from the prisoner to the guard was acknowledgment of the orders that had been given, and the prisoner’s agreement to follow the order, regardless how thoughtless it may have been.

But Paul saw his “chains” as an opportunity to share Jesus with others who didn’t know him yet. Never mind the deplorable conditions that existed in those Roman jails, never mind the fact that he could just as easily been beaten and starved, as he could have been left in solitary to suffer alone.
Remember the time that Paul and Silas were imprisoned because they had freed a slave girl of a fortune-telling demon? Her owners had lost a sizable income when she could no longer tell fortunes, and had the evangelists thrown into jail. One night, the two men were singing the Lord’s praises and praying – rather loudly, I suspect – when an earthquake shook the place, and the prison doors flew wide open! But did Paul and Silas run for their lives? Hardly!
The jailer was scared half to death, and asked the pair how he could have the faith that they had. He took the evangelists home with him, where their wounds were cared for, and the entire family was baptized. (Acts 16:34)

It’s important that we share the gospel regardless of where we are, or what our life’s circumstances may be. And not only share it, but do it boldly and courageously.

Read Philippians 1:15-18

Different people reacted differently to Paul’s arrest. Some took advantage of his situation, and began preaching the gospel, apparently, for person gain. They didn’t like Paul, and as a matter of fact, they were jealous of the successes that he had. They began sharing Jesus, not out of love for the Lord, but out of envy and distrust for Paul! In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns us about doing this very thing. He told us that some may even cast out demons, or prophesy in the name of Christ, but the Lord will tell them that he doesn’t even know them. Simply proclaiming the name of the Lord will not open heaven’s gate for us. It requires a relationship, and that is what Paul had received.

But then he asks the question “Does that matter?” For him, motives weren’t the issue – the mere fact that the name of Jesus was being proclaimed was what was important. I suppose he felt that the Spirit would settle the dust, and would reveal the truth of Christ, even in the midst of unholy intentions. For Paul, anything that brought us into a relationship with Jesus was OK in his book!

Between you and me, though, I’m not so sure that proclaiming the Lord with words, but not the heart, is sufficient. I suppose some folks can come to the Lord through these insufficient means, but what about the rest, and what about the one who is only sharing words, and not the meaning behind them? What about their souls?
As an example, there are many who claim to be Christians, but who also believe in Universal Salvation – that everyone will, in the end, be saved, with or without faith in Jesus. In several of the “I AM” sayings, Jesus repeatedly says that he is the only way – John 9:5 – “I am the light of the world.”; John 10:9 – “I Am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved.”; John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, they will live.”; John 14:6-7 “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

It seems that as far as God is concerned, the way of Jesus is our only hope.

So we come back to the original question – what is the value of the Bible for each of our lives? If we don’t look to Jesus as the only way to glory, then hope must be based on our good works and by the world’s means and thoughts, and surrender to Christ’s ways, and enduring the hatred of the world, is both ridiculous and senseless. But if we accept scripture as containing the word and authority of God, the ways of earth become not only senseless, but hopeless. And the animosity of earth can then be endured as Paul did – with rejoicing, and singing, and proclaiming, and witnessing to the glory that comes simply by faith in Christ.

As Joshua said “Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Read Philippians 1:18-20

Paul was in prison, and would be facing a trial shortly. And yet, he found the means and purpose and strength to continue to rejoice! And why? Because he saw this as a win-win situation – if he was spared execution, then he would be able to continue proclaiming the salvation and glory that comes by faith in Jesus Christ, and if he was to be killed, that meant that he would be meeting Jesus again, and this time, it would be under far better circumstances than the first time.

He prayed that all that has happened would lead to his “deliverance”. But he wasn’t looking for an acquittal from the Roman court – he had given up all hope in earthly judgment years ago. He was trusting in his deliverance – in his salvation – from divine judgment. But at the same time, he is praying that his actions at the Roman judgment, and possibly at the Roman execution, will not bring shame to his life. In other words, his hope is that faith and spiritual power would always sustain him.

In living or dying, Paul sees a victory and a blessing – not because he is so brave and bold and faithful, but that glorifying Jesus is all that he lives for, and all that he will, one day, die for. But that hadn’t always been Paul’s way. He had been a Pharisee, and a zealous one at that. He loved the law, he strived for the law, and he believed that he had been called to persecute all who didn’t believe as he did. He pursued anyone who put their faith in Christ, and he would see to it that they were arrested, tried, judged, and stoned to death for their heresy.

And then the day came when his life would be radically changed on the Damascus Road through his meeting with the living and resurrected Jesus, who asked him pointedly “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?” (Acts 9:1-19). The evangelist knew the shame that came in that moment, and he never wanted to feel that again. And he knew that his faith in Christ was the only hope of shedding that earthly shame.

The gospel message was his only hope – hope in both life and in death – and he would never relinquish it. And today, those who believe that scripture is only a nice story will one day, know the shame that Paul, and committed Christians through the centuries, have discovered, and been relieved of. If they experience that shame in life, there is hope for them in Christ; if it only comes in death, then shame will prevail.

There’s an old saying – “If you are arrested and tried for being a disciple of Jesus Christ, will there be enough evidence to convict you?” Have you shared Jesus with anyone during the last week? Have you rejoiced in Christ while enduring the persecution of the world? Have you followed the command in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything, give thanks”? (NKJV)

Do you love the gospel message enough to live it with Jesus, in his way, and for others? If not, maybe it's time!

“The Love That Comes By Faith”

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Jesus tells us that we are to love others as he first loved us. (John 13:34-35) But the honest truth is that this is easier said than done! Think about the way, as well as the who, that the Lord showed his love to! He loved the rich and the poor, the righteous and the sinner, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, those who hated him and those who loved him –there was no one who the Lord didn’t love! That doesn’t mean that he ignored the life that each was leading – he called everyone to account for their sins. And that is the tough part of loving others – loving the person, even while you can never love their sinful ways.

“Tough love” involves correction when you encounter life styles that are self-destructive, and that is the purest kind of love that we will ever show to anyone. Every personal encounter that Jesus had left the person better off than they were before they met the Lord. Think about Nicodemus (John 3:1-21); think about the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was under the control of a demon (Mark 7:24-30); think about the woman caught in adultery (John 8:2-11); think about the merchants who had their tables overturned in the temple (John 2:13-22). In every instance, Jesus was teaching about the kingdom of God, and revealing just what true love was all about. And loving and accepting and failure to address the sinfulness in a person’s life is anything but a loving act.

Today’s passage is about loving the people of this earth in the same way that Jesus has loved each of us.

Read Romans 12:9-13

The list of attributes that we will read about today are, in general, intended to build up the Body of Christ. It is offered so that each Christian will consider them as a way to live; it is offered for Christian organizations to reflect on, and to use as a check list against their activities; it is offered to each individual church, as well as to the Church Universal, to test their approach to mission in the world.

The list begins with “Love must be sincere.” It must be honest - truthful, without a personal agenda. It must be pure - uncontaminated with worldly attitudes and prejudice, clear and concise. It must be genuine - true in every way, without malice. And it must never be self-aggrandizing. Sincere love is a gift that we offer to others, without ever seeking love in return.

As the list continues, the items are, without actually saying so, ways to show our love.

Detest evil and embrace goodness. At first glance, this may seem obvious, but the world will do their best to blur our understanding of both evil and goodness. It is only by Jesus’ teaching, and the Spirit’s inspiration, that we can stay focused on God’s truth in the matter.

Be devoted to others in love. I think that the Church has difficulty with this one –we generally fail at loving others with Christian passion and a zealous heart for their lives. It can’t be half-hearted; it can’t be random; it can’t be selective. “Devoted love” is all in, nothing held back, and above all, must be Christ-centered.

Put others ahead of yourself. Take the lower position, make others more important in an obvious and intentional way, show them honor and love, whether you think they deserve it or not.

Love with a Spiritual fervor. Don’t love as the world loves. I think it is Facebook that encourages the “BFF”, Best Friend Forever, relationship. But it seems that “forever” only lasts until we decide to “Unfriend” the other person! So much for Forever! Spiritual fervor, though - Spiritual zeal for another person – can never, will never, “unfriend” anyone.

Be joyful in hope (this is Christ’s hope, not the world’s), for this hope will never disappoint us (Romans 5:5)
Be patient when life seems to be headed for the pits! Give the Lord time to work in, and for, and through you.
Share with all who are in need, and do it in Christian love. (Matthew 25:34-46)
Be faithful in prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Be joyful always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances”. Enough said?

Christian love is all encompassing and all embracing, and we are to live in that very way.

Read Romans 12:14-16

While the first few verses were about how we show love to others, the remainder of this passage is actually more about our relationships with others, and it begins with, very likely, the most difficult of all commands – offer blessings to those who show hatred toward you, simply because of who you believe in. And quite honestly, the persecution that we experience in the USA is nothing when compared to that which Christians in other areas of the world ae going through.
But even locally, think about the Amish families who, several years ago, had their children tragically killed in a senseless act of violence. They forgave the murder, they brought food to his family, they carried Christ with them as they ministered to each other, as well as those who loved the one who did the killing. That is what being a blessing in the midst of persecution is all about.

Paul tells us that our relationships must go well past the routine – that we aren’t to just be pleased when others have a joy-filled experience, or sad when they are going through difficult times – we are to fully and intimately join them in both the rejoicing and the sorrow.
And it isn’t about offering this relationship to friends in the church – it is for the neighbor down the street who lets his dog visit your yard every evening to leave his “calling card”, or the person who never cares for their own yard, but complains about every improvement that you make to yours. That’s what the Christian life looks like - never living as the world lives, but offering Christ-like love to all.

Live in harmony. That does not mean that we are to be exactly like others – it is more like the harmony that comes in music. Every member of a choir doesn’t sing the same notes that others do, and sometimes they don’t even sing the same rhythm – but every note and every phrase is designed to complement the others, and together, they create a story of unity and beauty for all who are listening. But if we emphasize our own part over that of the rest, the music may be ruined.

The Christian relationship is about letting our differences supplement each other, rather than overwhelm them.

Read Romans 12:17-21

The Christian’s goal in life is to try to be a good neighbor to the entire world. Even though Paul writes that our actions are to match the expectations and ways of the world, I doubt that he actually intended us to accept and encourage “un”-Christian principles. As we read through the gospels, we discover that even Jesus could never make everyone happy with what he did and said! But everything that he did say and do were intended to make everyone’s life better, and that must be our goal, too. And this point is reinforced in verse 18 – “IF it is possible, as far as it depends on you…”, live the kind of life that will bring honor to the Lord. That doesn’t mean that the world will see your life as an example for theirs, but we live for the Lord regardless.

And we don’t judge the lifestyles that others live – we are to be discerning of what is right and what is not, but judgement is the Lord’s responsibility when he returns to earth. Our job is to care for the people of earth – to support them, to help them, to love them, in spite of the sin that lives in their lives. And while we usually forget about our own shortcomings, never for a moment overlook the fact that we are those sinners, too.

And Paul is very quick to point out that when we live a truly Christian life – one that feeds the hungry, cares for the sick, welcomes the stranger, visits those who are detested and set aside by society, that they will, whether they want to or not, see the Lord Jesus at work in their own lives.

It’s true that most of us can, and would probably prefer, to sling mud with the best (or worst) that the world can bring, that is not the way of Christ. We are to help those who are covered with the dust of earth, to help them find their way to cleansing and renewal by faith in Jesus Christ.

This is what “sincere love” - the love of Christ – is, not only for our lives, but as the hope of the world. It will never be easy, and we will seldom be loved in return, but then neither was Jesus.

So give it a try - what have we got to lose?

“The Life That Comes from Christ”

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

How often have we heard others say that they don’t come to church because they don’t like religion – and all because of some ill-conceived perception that they have of what God is demanding from them? They are unable to see any benevolence in the Lord whatsoever, and they are unwilling to offer any back. One of the aspects of grace that John Wesley experienced is described as “Prevenience”. Prevenient Grace is God’s calling us, encouraging us, desiring that we might be in relationship with him. Unfortunately, too many folks see this more as a pursuit than as a call.

In the late 19th century, a poet by the name of Francis Thompson wrote a piece entitled “The Hound of Heaven”. It was about a man who felt as though he was being pursued all his life, but was never actually attacked. In one line, we read “Fear (was) not to evade, as Love (was) to pursue.” As strong as the pursuit was in his life, there was no fear of harm that might come to him, for the only sensation that he felt was Love. He knew that he wasn’t worthy of that love, and he wasn’t sure of what to do about it.

At the end of the piece, Thompson writes “Shade of his hand, outstretched caressingly? Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am he whom Thou seekest.” It was no longer a pursuit that he felt, but the hand of God being offered to him, because he was the one who God desired.

The most basic premise of Christian faith is that the only sacrifice that the Lord desires from us is the gift of our love and dedication to his way, and the only “pursuit” that is underway is carrying us in the direction of holy perfection.

Read Romans 12:1-2

We are living in an age of “overlap” – the age of Messiah has begun, but the age of “earth” has yet to end. The world entices us to remain unchanged and uncertain. Paul uses the term “pattern” to describe the world’s way – a model that is enjoyable, pleasurable, consistent – a way that has been followed by the vast majority of people for thousands of years. Jesus’ way, on the other hand, is about change. It isn’t about momentary and personal gratification, but rather is imbedded in the hand that is “caressingly outstretched” to us, pleading for us to leave the path of devastation and follow his way of life.

One Biblical paraphrase translates verse 2 like this – “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” Good advice! The only mold that we should ever enter is the one that conforms us to the way of Christ. Jesus would have us be transformed in the likeness of God, just as we were created in his image (Genesis 1:26-28).

The Lord’s way doesn’t demand or coerce or threaten – it offers, it encourages, it seeks, it promises the very best of eternity. It changes us completely; it refreshes our minds and hearts; it exchanges this brief and finite existence for one that is eternal and Christ-like. It’s a transformation that is not only renewing, but is one that is able to welcome the Holy Spirit as a guide and encouragement for our lives. The life and way of the world can, and does, leave us high and dry most of the time, but the Lord’s way is one of unity and security. Christ promises that we will never be abandoned, (Hebrews 13:4-6), that we will never be left as orphans without a relationship in him (John 14:18-19) but the world offers us no such promise.

Paul ends verse 2 with the thought that by conforming our hearts and minds to God’s way, we will gain an understanding as to what God’s will is for our lives. Without Jesus, we can’t have the Spirit, and without the Spirit, we will never know the Lord’s will and way. John 14:15-17 tells us that if we love Jesus and keep his commandments, the Father will send the Spirit to be with us. But that the world will never experience the Spirit, because they have turned away from Christ.

Read Romans 13:3-5

Now, Paul turns to what the Church must be about. The Church, the body of believers, is to be humble, for that is the only attitude that can enable us to truly worship the One, Living and Glorious God. For most people, that is the personal sacrifice that they have to make when they give their lives to Christ – and it’s difficult! Humility is not a revered attribute of the world! They want us to be strong and decisive and committed to ourselves. The apostle calls us to be self-judging, to see just who we truly are – and to do it honesty through faith in the truth of God, not by the fabrication of earth.

Have you ever tried to actually do that? To truthfully evaluate your life through the lens of Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ will never allow us to view anything through the “rose-colored glasses” of earth. But with clarity of vision, a view of the life we lead will be nothing if not humbling and sobering, and maybe even a little embarrassing! Will a “truthful vision” of our life reveal a full and honest participation as a member of the Body of Christ? Or will this vision show that we have fallen far short? Do we honor and encourage the participation of others in the Body, or have we pushed them out of the way because we know that they can never do “it” (whatever “it” is!) as well as we can? Do we encourage and enable others, or do we only enable ourselves? Do we see ourselves as “first” and “best”, or as “last” and “unworthy”?

Paul tells us that each of us is a single member of the whole, and that the gifts and abilities that we have are owned by the entire Body. Think about this for a minute. Each of us is not only incomplete without the others, but the things that we think that we can offer to the Church are not ours to control – that others are just as important and gifted as we are, and maybe more so! The United Methodist Church is going through a difficult and revealing period of self-examination right now, and we are discovering that many in the church are heading out in their own selfish way, and are demanding that the “whole” agree with them. I don’t think that this is the form of “unity” that Paul is advocating for.

So what is wisdom – what is it that will lead us to the truth of God? Is it based in the intellect that each of us was born with, or must it be founded in a Christ-like transformation? The problem with human wisdom and intelligence is that it can be so diverse and self-serving that it only creates divisiveness and chaos, and destroys each and every sense of cohesiveness.
The only time that “wisdom” unifies is when it is perfect, and the only perfect wisdom comes from Almighty God. Belonging, such as in the Body of Christ, requires surrender and sacrifice – not in a worldly way that builds us up, but in a divine way that gives our all over to the Lord, and gives him permission to make us whole and complete through him, and with the Church.

So what does that mean for our church in general, and for us specifically? Ephesians 4:1-6 speaks to this far better than I could. The passage tells us to work together in love, not obligation. It tells us to embrace the concept of personal surrender, and to dedicate ourselves in unity – unity in the Spirit, not in our humanity. We read that there is only one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. The only place that we show up in this entire series is in the body, and even that must be based in the authority and majesty - and unity - of the Triune God.

Read Romans 12:6-8

This sounds very similar to chapter 12 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, as well as Ephesians 4:11-13, in which he talks about the Body being made up of many parts, none of which are more important that the others. He tells us that each of us has a gift to share, and that we should never presume to use gifts that we haven’t been given, but are to encourage and help others who do have those gifts and are being called to use them.
The one important difference in these verses from Romans, is that Paul includes an authority with each gift. We are given these gifts according to God’s grace. In other words, God, and God alone, determines who receives what, and how each is to use the gift that is given. Throughout the passage, he pronounces the gift, and then places the authority to use it upon each one specifically.

The Lord is granting authority to use the gifts that we are given in his name, but there is no authority to use personal abilities, ones that are not God inspired or blessed, in his name. Conversely, there is no permission to either withhold the use of these divine gifts, or to use them for our own gratification. It is the Lord’s gift, and his decision as to how they are to be shared with the world.

This is what living in and for Christ is all about. It’s putting Jesus first, giving him complete authority to govern and lead and delegate his will to our lives. It’s putting the hopes and desires of others ahead of our own. It’s accepting the guidance and authority of the Holy Spirit over who we are and what we are to do. And it is about rejoicing in the fact that by the surrender of our own agendas, our own plans, our own prestige, our own wisdom and authority, that we can live as one within the Body of Christ, bringing honor and praise to the mighty name of Jesus.

The life that comes to us by faith in Jesus Christ is not a solitary or self-gratifying one – it is one that is unifying, and victorious, and is a blessing to all the world. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we actually worked to do that some day?

“Second Chances”

Scripture: Romans 11:22-32

In several passages from Romans, Paul seems to warn the Church about a weak faith that will lead to being cut off from the Lord. While it is true that a shallow faith may not bring a person to the glory of Jesus Christ, it does not mean that in our days of trial and struggle, when faith is tested nearly to the breaking point, that we, too, will become one of those “broken branches” that we read about last week (Romans 11:21). But a weakened faith that the Church does not care for, and does not strengthen, and does not restore, may result in the loss for future generations.

We come to the Lord by faith, and the way forward is also by faith, and anything short of full and faithful dependence on God will most certainly fail us. But even in that, there is still hope.

Read Romans 11:22-24

Paul writes of both the Lord’s “kindness” and his “sternness”. Some folks have a difficult time in accepting that these two drastic extremes could exist in the Lord at the same time – but they do. His kindness is shown to those who have been sinners in their past, but now wish to come to his mercy. God is welcoming of all who renounce their past sinfulness in favor of his love, and it is kindness, because in the forgiveness that he offers, he wipes the slate clean of our past indiscretions. And as often as we sin, and as often as we return to seek his forgiveness, his kindness toward us will reign.
But “sternness” is also present, and it raises its head when we refuse to set our sins aside, and continue in the worldly ways of human privilege, human pride, human worth, and trust in our human abilities. In verse 22, Paul writes that we will know God’s kindness, as long as we continue to live in his kindness.

Kindness doesn’t only reside in the great Heart of Goodness – it is paramount within the word of God. To live in divine kindness requires living within the authority and truth of God’s word. Kindness may forgive us for the sins we commit, but it can never ignore our sin. Kindness may bring incredible blessings to our lives, but it will never bless our sin. And Paul tells us that if sin continues unrepentantly, sternness will replace the Lord’s kindness.

In this passage, God is reminding Israel of their failure to accept him in Christ Jesus, but Paul reminds the gentiles that even as Israel may be cut off from his blessing, they, too, can suffer the same fate. But the Lord always holds out hope for the fallen. “IF they do not persist in unbelief”, meaning that they set their sins aside and return to his way, they will be welcomed back into his presence.

The point of these verses isn’t that the “sternness” of God can cut us off from his grace – it is all about his kindness that welcomes us back and embraces us. Our God is the God of second chances. Even sin cannot hold us, if we hold to the desire to return to the word and way of Jesus.

Read Romans 11:25-27

Again, Paul wants the gentiles to understand that salvation has come to them through the hardening of Israel’s heart. He says that this is a mystery (the Lord’s plan for their salvation that is), so don’t try to figure it out and don’t become proud over it.

Martin Luther wrote:
It is the worst kind of vice and the most demonic kind of pride for us to commend ourselves and pat ourselves on the back if we see or feel some special gift in ourselves. We do not thank God for it, but we become so proud and contemptuous of others and so preoccupied with it that we do not pay attention to whatever else we are doing, and imagine that we are in fine shape. We rob God of his glory this way, and we make ourselves an idol. ...

But when you go on to use your gift as a mirror in which to admire yourself, you spoil it completely and make this sublime ornament filthier than everybody else's faults. The richer your gifts, the more abominable the perversion if you make them an idol. Thus you replace God with yourself in your own heart. ... God did not give you your gifts for you to tickle yourself with them, but for you to help your neighbor with them when he needs it.

--Martin Luther, Commentary on "The Sermon on the Mount" (1532). LW 21, 216, 18.

Israel has been hardened until the full number of gentiles has come to know the Lord’s salvation. The New Interpreters’ Bible tells us this about hardening - “a hardening is what happens, through the (patience) of God, to those who do not accept the gospel. Hardening is what happens when otherwise immediate judgment is postponed but people do not avail themselves of the chance to repent and believe.” Israel will not, in general, accept the gospel message until the Lord’s return is imminent, and then their sin will be “removed”. Israel’s hardening is holding back the judgment until the Lord’s time arrives.

Israel will be saved, but the same cannot be said for the gentile world. It seems that Israel will, one day, come to know the Lord’s mercy, but gentiles who will not come to Jesus Christ will only know his wrath.

Read Romans 11:28-32

We may see Israel as an enemy of the gospel, but the Lord loves them dearly because of their ancestors and their history. Israel refused to accept the teachings of Jesus, but God’s promises and gifts and call can never be withdrawn. In other words, the Lord will never – can never – change his mind or his word. Once given, always true.

So Israel’s present situation was not their choice specifically, but was God’s way to allow you and me to come into his glory. No one is worthy – not the Jews and not the gentiles! But God has set two specific plans in progress to bring worthiness into the lives of both peoples. Israel’s salvation is by covenant, while the gentiles’ salvation is by God’s mercy in Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s plan of salvation is one of those heavenly mysteries that we will never unravel. The tapestry of God’s love for humanity is so intricately and precisely and tightly woven together, that we will never understand the process or the means. But then, we weren’t created to understand. The only call that the Lord has placed on both Israel and the gentile world is to see the beauty that exists within the plan of salvation, and not in how it was put together.

Personally, I’m thrilled that this is the way it is. I don’t want the Lord to be someone I can figure out – if he were, God would be on my level, and I would never want to acknowledge him as divine!
I want him to be so far above me, to have so much more intelligence than I do, to know so much more than I ever could, to be infinitely more powerful and majestic, to have mercy and grace beyond all of my reason, to be perfectly faithful to the Father’s plan and my needs, to be incomprehensible, inconceivable, infinitely loving and completely fair (not in my concept of fairness, though, but infinitely more so). (Isaiah 55:6-9) For if I could understand everything about the Lord and his ways, he would exist as I exist, and he wouldn’t be worthy of my praise or my allegiance.

But God has given us all that we need to know, and calls us to do what we are able to do, and he has done all the rest. He has given us just enough information, so that by faith and mercy, we can have a chance to put our human imperfections, our sins, behind us, and to live perfectly with him in eternity.

That is the God who we should want to worship, and the only God who can live up to his promises. Praise the Lord for who he is, and for what we can become through him.