“And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. … Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” Hosea 1:6,8-9
Many mistakenly believe that modern-day Israel is God’s chosen people; however, God’s word teaches otherwise. The names God commanded Hosea to give his children testify that those who turn aside from worshipping and serving the true God and looking to Him for mercy in the promised Messiah receive no mercy (“Lo-ruhamah”) and are no longer God’s people (“Lo-ammi”). God also said, “It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God” (Hosea 6:10). Those who repent of their sinful ways and look in faith to Messiah Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for pardon and forgiveness, whether Jew or Gentile, are God’s elect children (cf. Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Pet. 2:3-10).
Thank You, O God, for having mercy on me and adopting me as Your own dear child through faith in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Open the eyes of those who do not yet trust Jesus the Messiah, that they too might receive of Your mercy and be Your dear children through faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:8
Do we become children of God by being descendants of Abraham? Or is it by trusting in God’s promise of a Savior to atone for our sins? It is not the children of the flesh who are God’s people, but those with faith in God’s promises. In Galatians 3:26, we read, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Grant that we not trust in our heritage but in Your promise of a Savior to redeem us, O God. We pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son, and our Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
How important it is to guard our hearts — to fill them with the Word of God and to keep them from the allurements of this world! If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit by continuing in His Word, we will reap life everlasting through faith in Christ Jesus!
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I guard my heart and let it be filled with the truth of Your saving Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Romans 9:6-7
To truly be a part of God’s people of Israel, it is not enough to be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; one must share in the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and trust in God’s promise to send a Savior to redeem fallen mankind. The same is true today. Holding membership in a Christian church does not make one a Christian; one must repent of his sinful ways and trust in Christ Jesus and His cross for forgiveness and life to be a true Christian and child of God (cf. Gal. 3:26ff.).
O Spirit of God, through Your life-giving Word, create in me faith in Christ Jesus that I might be a true Israelite and true Christian. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
What is the Gospel? It is the faith-producing message of God’s Word, revealing the perfect righteousness that God imputes to all those who look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. It is a righteousness of faith and not of our failed works under the law; and it is revealed to faith — to those who, by God’s grace, believe God’s promise to justify and save those who trust in Christ Jesus.
O gracious God, grant me faith in the Gospel message that I may trust in Christ Jesus and His cross and be counted righteous and acceptable in Your sight. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
