Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.
SOVEREIGNTY
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. Romans 9:16
We seem to lose our minds when it comes to Romans 9-11. I know of some pastors who will stop preaching or teaching at the end of Romans 8, or else skip over the next three chapters and resume in Romans 12. Often it is because the struggle of Romans 7 is either forgotten or forsaken, and the spiritual victory of Romans 8 is misunderstood, since the logical flow from the beginning of the letter, chapter by chapter, has been disrupted between the wretchedness of our condition (Rom 7:24) and our gratitude for atoning grace in Christ (Rom 7:25). When the eyes of our faith are upon Christ Jesus, this is why “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). The wretchedness of the struggle within causes us not to trust in the strength of our flesh, but in the power of Christ and Him crucified. Still the recognition of our wretched struggle causes us also to realize that God is merciful; and thank God with praise unto His Son, that He is sovereign in His mercy and grace. For as a just God, we ALL deserve eternal condemnation for the sins we’ve committed against His holy goodness. His sovereignty further solidifies in our hearts and minds that it is by grace we have been saved through faith, because salvation, our subsequent sanctification, and moreover, our glorification when Christ returns (Rom 8:30) depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. Had God not chosen us in Christ, our only just and rightly deserved fate is to be consumed by the eternal fire for sins we’ve committed against God, and for all the good we’ve omitted from performing before God. It is not a wonder that God hated Esau (Rom 8:13b); it is, however, a jaw-dropping wonder that God would love a rascal like Jacob (Rom 8:13a); and even more astounding is that He would love the likes of you and me. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Our God is sovereign and gives grace
To wretched souls who sham’d His face;
His mercy shines on those He’s plac’d
In Christ’s scarr’d hands with seeds of faith.
Online Bible Audio/Reading (ESV)
1 Samuel 11; Romans 9; Jeremiah 48; Psalm 25
