IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 9:18

First, Paul's lament for his people (1-5). Paul had a broken heart for his people. A vast majority of the Jews had rejected Jesus as their Messiah and were missing out on the salvation of God. With all sincerity, Paul wished he could exchange his salvation for theirs. As God's chosen nation above all others, they had received one blessing after another culminating in the coming of Christ as one of their very own. But now, they were lost. How did this happen? This has been our experience as well. Our own nation has been blessed by God in so many ways, but so few have accepted the gospel and followed Jesus. We share in Paul's anguish.

Second, God's sovereign choice (6-18). One might wonder why more Jews didn't receive salvation through Christ. Did God fail in his promise to Abraham or was he being unfair somehow? No to both! God's blessing was never made to all of Abraham's descendants, but to only those he chose, as when he chose Isaac over Ishmael. In fact, God's choice is not based on merit either since he chose Jacob over Esau before they were even born. Salvation is on the basis of mercy alone and it is God's just and sovereign choice to decide who he will have mercy upon.

Prayer: Father, we praise you for your wonderful mercy.

One Word: Mercy is God's sovereign choice