And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times....Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Romans 9

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times....Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5-6

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter thirteen God's Word Has Not Failed, which covers Romans 9:1-29.  My focus today is Romans 9:24-29, which my commentary refers to under the heading Truth 4: God's Promises Include Many Gentiles and a Jewish Remnant.  Picking up where he left off in my reading yesterday, where Paul states in v23 that God had a plan to "make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy," stating that this plan included both Jews and Gentiles. Paul quotes Hosea (v25-26) and Isaiah (v27) to make his point. Jonah was also another Old Testament prophet sent to save a Gentile people - Nineveh.  So, Paul continues to make the case how although he is saddened by Jewish unbelievers (v9:2), God's promise for the Jews as a chosen people is fulfilled and God's Word does not fail. Once again, as previously posted, God does not promise to save every Jew - only a remnant (v27) and it was always part of God's plan to save from among every nation - Jews and Gentiles alike. Also, the key takeaway is that salvation is not due to birth, ethnicity, or to anything you do - it relies on grace alone. 

As my commentary reflects back on chapter 9 as a whole, it provides six exhortations:

1. share Paul's burdens for unbelievers
2. never doubt God's Word
3. embrace the mystery of God's sovereignty and human responsibility
4. allow the vision of God's sovereignty to increase your faith
5. bow down before God's majesty
6. never get over the wonder of God's saving mercy and grace
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are majestic indeed - and again I have seen and continue to see Your glory daily - in my life and in the life of others.  I also see it in creation, etc. You bless me each morning with new mercies and with so much more - I am not deserving of how You bless me.  I worry - that I worry at all is sinful and I worry too much!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. v27

Zach, my son, has not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, so he lets the bread and cup pass him by at church when we celebrate communion.  While it is difficult for me to watch this - I want to see Zach in Heaven - I am adamant that it is his choice to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.   I still love him and I am still proud of who he is.  This in mind, it is appropriate that Zach let the bread and cup pass him by - as anyone should if they are not a professed Christian.  See also John Piper on this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and You softened my heart to believe and accept You as my Lord and Savior - for this I am grateful.  Thank You Jesus for setting me free!  I am not deserving of Your love and the many blessings You pour out on me.  I am selfish, I gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to support and encourage them.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had. v8-9

Genesis 28

Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had. v8-9

Jacob and Rebekah advised both of their sons not to marry Canaanite women - they recognize that we should not be "yoked" with unbelievers.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14

Several commentaries, including this one, I believe rightly point this out as well as the importance of honoring our mother and father.

See also post here.

Lord, please protect Lisa and myself from the world of unbelief and protect Zach and Dustin from this world.  Prepare friends and family for them that are believers in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have blessed our family with an abundance of believers as friends and family.  Thank You Jesus!  We are undeserving of such love.  I continue in my sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?

2 Corinthians 6

 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? v14

It is not that we cannot be friends with unbelievers, it is that we must not allow their unbelief to influence our own belief - we must instead be a light on lampstand that shines for others to see:

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:15

My Prayer: Lord, Your heart is pure, holy and blameless. I know You have a heart for me...unbelievable because I am a sinner!  I am selfish, prideful, arrogant, impatient, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Heal Lisa's cancer.  You are a great God and I desire to serve and glorify You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.