Each week, I’ll share personal reflections from my own time with God, our Heavenly Father. On a Personal Note is where I’ll highlight takeaways and implications for walking with the Lord.
I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.
Romans 11:25-32
One day at work, a coworker surprised me with a gift. It wasn’t the holiday season and her gift was unexpected. I had absolutely nothing to give her in return. I felt awkward and my mind was calculating if I could get to the store on my lunch break and throw something together before work was over. I quickly decided it was easier to just refuse the gift, but my coworker was not having that. She absolutely would not take it back. A gift I felt that I did not deserve was bestowed upon me and there were no takebacks.
Friend, God’s love is just like my coworkers gift; undeserved and unrefusable. God chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bear his promises. Always remember that the Lord will honor his promises to His chosen ones. What God initially bestowed upon the people of Israel has been gifted to all believers in Christ. We are covered in God’s grace, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and granted forgiveness for our sins. We can have confidence that God will remain faithful despite our shortcomings because He is so full of mercy.
A Hymn of Praise
Oh, the depth of the riches
and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments
and untraceable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?
For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36 CSB
As we study the word of God, we should walk away with practical steps for our life. My two takeaways are that God has gifted us with mercy despite our flaws and we should live our lives to glorify Him.
What about you? What’s your takeaway? How will you walk it out in your daily life?
