So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. Romans 9:18 - Is what we are reading here what we think it’s saying? Is Paul saying that God chooses to show mercy to some people and to some He chooses not to? Yes, but let’s work through that. Remember mercy is the concept of “not getting what we deserve.” We all deserve death and eternal separation from God, that is the just and fair consequence due to our wrongs. Yet God has chosen to demonstrate His mercy to some by opening their heart to the pathway of His life, and others He has allowed to remain in their hardened state of rejection of Him. How can God do that? How can He be so unjust to choose some for mercy and others not? I found this story as I studied this passage…“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’” When we get to the spot where we believe man deserves and has earned God’s mercy, that when we have missed the mark. The fact that God even allows any to have His offer of life is remarkable. Yet how does God “choose” who gets this and who doesn’t? Friends, that’s something we can never know, but what it doesn’t do is give us an out on sharing the Gospel. Since we have no clue what God’s will is for each person, we must choose to follow God’s command of sharing His Gospel with each person. What the Spirit does in each person’s life after that is up to the Lord and isn’t our place to question. If though you have received Christ, know that means He has chosen you to show His mercy to and that’s a wonderfully beautiful thing. Be now the one that God uses to show His mercy to another. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3432
Question To Ponder: What would be a reason why you shouldn’t have received God’s mercy?
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