“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may keep all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29
There are many things the LORD God has not revealed to us that are far beyond our understanding. Instead of trying to grasp the hidden things of God, we should focus our attention on what He has revealed in His Word that we might repent of our sins, trust in Christ Jesus, and follow Him.
Almighty and all-wise God, grant that I read and study Your Word and hold fast to all You reveal to us in the Scriptures so that I may repent of my evil ways and look to the Son and His cross for pardon and forgiveness. Amen.
“As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed.’” Romans 9:33
Summarizing the witness of Isaiah 8:14-15; 28:16; and Psalm 118:22, the Apostle Paul points out that Jesus Christ is a precious stone, the very cornerstone of God’s temple, since He is our high priest and the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, and there is salvation in no other. Many stumble over Him in unbelief and fall from the faith, but those who trust in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior shall never be put to shame for, in Him and His cross, they have forgiveness for all their sins and life everlasting.
O gracious God, grant that I not stumble over Jesus and His cross but trust in Him as the Son of God and my crucified and risen Savior. Amen.
“As indeed He says in Hosea: ‘I will call those who were not My people, “My people,” and her who was not beloved, “Beloved,”’ and, ‘In the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there they shall be called “sons of the living God.”’” Romans 9:25-26
Paul cites the prophet Hosea (Hosea 1:8ff.), whose son was named Lo-ammi (not my people), to point out that idolatrous Israel was not God’s people. But God also promised through Hosea that He would make people who were not His people be called His people and the children of the living God through faith in the promised Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ.
O LORD God, we were born into this world not your people and in rebellion against You. We thank You for graciously making us Your beloved children by revealing to us Your gift of forgiveness and life through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
“What shall we say then? The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith, but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain the law of righteousness. Why not? Because they did not seek it by faith, but by the works of the law. For they stumbled over the stumbling stone.” Romans 9:30-32
Many people outside Israel, who formerly did not have the Scriptures, heard the Gospel and attained righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Many in Israel, who had the Scriptures, failed to attain righteousness because they sought to be righteous by their works under the law rather than through faith in Christ Jesus, who kept the law for them and then atoned for their sins by His death on the cross.
Grant that I despair of my own righteousness under the law and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross that I might be counted righteous and acceptable in Your sight, O God. Amen.
“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” Romans 9:22-24
Some would fault God for their own unbelief, but who are we to fault God when He finally hardens those who continually reject the truth of His Word and the work of His Spirit? And, how thankful we can be when God, by the Holy Spirit’s working through the Word, graciously brings us, undeserving sinners, to repent of our sins and place our faith in the atoning sacrifice of God’s Son, Christ Jesus!
Thank you, merciful Holy Spirit, for patiently enduring my sinfulness and working through Your Word to bring me to repent and place my faith in Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
