Romans 9 - 10.16.24
Scripture
As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:13, NKJV)
Observation
“Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated”, my mother’s voice resonated in my ears. Clutching my children’s bible to my heart, the 5-year-old me sobbed to God, “Lord do love my sister, but please don’t hate me”. I spent my early childhood in the country of Nigeria, as my parents were working in that country teaching college students training to be elementary school teachers. My mother would carve out time in her schedule to teach the Bible to me and my sister regularly. I remember the day she taught us the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, the cunning younger son who was the favorite of his mother, ended up inheriting God’s blessings promised to Abraham, his grandfather. In my mind, I was Esau the first-born, and my lovely and adorable younger sister was Jacob. I had no doubt that the younger one who is naturally cute and loveable, adored by family and friends, would be the favorite of everyone. God would be no exception. But I prayed earnestly with the innocence only a 5-year-old can have, that God would not pass me by while He blesses my younger sister. It took me many years to understand that this was not what God meant in this passage.
We are the children of promise like Isaac. People like us, who do not have Jewish ancestry, were considered as “Gentiles” by the Jews. But the Bible says that the true inheritors of the promises of God are not the people of the Jewish bloodline, who tried to be justified by the law. Instead, the true inheritors of God’s promise are the ones who obtained it through faith (Romans 9:31,32). We are the children of promise to whom belong the promises of God. We are the children of the promise because we put our faith in Jesus and are saved through faith in Him. The promises God gave to Abraham belong to us (Romans 9:8). We see the same message in Galatians 3:29, which says “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. God chose us before the foundations of the earth, and he has a purpose for each one of us (Ephesians 1:4).
Esau, the first-born represents the Jewish nation who are the physical descendants of Abraham. In the Jewish tradition, the first-born has a lot of privileges. The first-born inherits a double portion of the father’s estate. If there are only two sons in the family, the first-born would inherit two-thirds of the father’s estate. The first-born had a special role in family worship and sacrifices and was respected as the leader in the family. However, God chose Jacob the younger one to receive His blessing. Jacob represents us, who do not have a natural right to the first-born privileges. However, God chose us and appointed us in his sovereign will to be the heirs of his kingdom and to become the children of promise and to inherit his blessings. He chose us, we did not choose Him (John 15:16).
Application
God in his mercy chose us, called us, and made us his children. Let us thank God for his mercy towards us. Let us choose to live a life worthy of his calling (Ephesians 4:1), abiding in the vine (John 15:4), and producing fruit worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30) by the choices we make. Instead let us do the good works that the Lord has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), living a life that pleases Him and fulfil His purpose in our life.
Prayer
Father, I want to thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me and making me your child. Help me to stay connected with you, so that you stay connected with me (John 15:4). Help me to abide in you, so that I will bear much fruit, and my fruit will remain (John 15:16). Please fulfill the purpose for which you have created me. May my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Romans 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
Romans 8 - 10.15.24
SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:14-16 "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
OBSERVATION: If you have been born-again, meaning if you have declared with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you are saved! (Romans 10:9).
When we are saved, God's Spirit comes to live in us. His Spirit gives life because of righteousness. We receive that righteousness from Jesus! He took ALL of our sin on the cross, and exchanged for righteousness, which makes us be able to have right standing with God! The Spirit helps us in our weakness. He intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. We are justified, not condemned! Jesus, Who died, and was raised to life is now at the right hand of God interceding for us. When Jesus prays, let me tell you, His prayers are answered the way He prays!
APPLICATION: We were once dominated by our sinful desires, but now the Holy Spirit is helping us to be over-comers and victorious over sinful temptations WHEN we tap into His power! We know the Holy Spirit lives in us because He is the One who gives us the desire to be more like Jesus, and please the Father. It's the Holy Spirit who empowers us to do the things that God has called us to.
PRAYER: Thank You Abba Father that Your Spirit lives in me. Thank You Holy Spirit for guiding me, teaching me, helping me, enabling me, and equipping me to serve and honor Jesus, and thank You Heavenly Father that as I do, You cause me to reap joy and everlasting life!
- Robin Orefice
Joshua 4 - 10.14.24
Scripture
Joshua 4:6-7 NLT
“We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”
Observation
The Lord had just helped the people of Israel cross the Jordan River by stopping the river from flowing. God had given the Israelites a dry path to walk through so they could get to the Promised Land. God then instructs Joshua to assign 12 men, (one from each tribe), to carry 12 stones out of the Jordan, and use them to build a memorial where they would be setting up camp. These stones, this memorial, would be used to remind the future generations to come, just how great and mighty their God was/is. It will remind them just how faithful God was to His people.
Application
What “stones/memorials” do we have in our personal life that we can share with our family so they can know of God’s awesome power, love, and faithfulness for generations to come? 🤔
Well it has to start with Jesus.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”-John 3:16
Jesus is my rock that I lean on. Jesus is my salvation. Jesus is my comforter and healer. Jesus is my provider. Jesus is my Heavenly Father, and friend. Without Him in my life, I am lost. I am nothing. Just like Joshua’s job from God was to build that memorial made of stones; to help remind the people of Israel, and the future generations of God’s power and faithfulness, my job is to share with my friends and family about Jesus; to let them know what Jesus has done for me; to make sure that Jesus’ story carries on for generations to come. All glory and honor belong to Him! 🙌🏽
Prayer
Thank You Jesus for being part of my life and blessing me with the family that I have. Thank You for blessing me with a wife and two daughters who also believe in You. May we all have these “rocks and memorials” in our lives to share with others about Your great might and love for us. May we often be reminded of it each and every day. May it carry on for generations to come. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi