jack anderson - Male - United States » WIMKIN

9 hours ago

Jesus is holding out His hands to you Romans 10:18-21 (ESV) 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the w... View MoreJesus is holding out His hands to you Romans 10:18-21 (ESV) 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” ----- ----- Paul continues to remind us of his concern for his brothers and sisters who are striving to follow the law of Moses, wanting them all to hear God’s truth and be saved, but they will not listen to reason, for they are tone deaf to Jesus’ words. God made it easy for them when He showed them His glory and His handiwork in the heavens, which no one can miss, if only they would have looked, and listened. God is speaking to you! Are you listening? The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6). The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11). In keeping the commandments of the Lord there is great reward! If only the Israelites would have faithfully and obediently kept them with their whole heart and mind and strength! God tried to make the Israelites jealous by offering His salvation and redemption and eternal life in Jesus name to the Gentiles. Paul reminded them that God had not rejected His people, for there will always be a remnant of Israel, those who truly love God with their whole heart and mind, according to His sovereign grace, in every generation. As Paul said: I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:1-6). What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” (Romans 11:7-8). And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.” (Romans 11:9-10) And so thru the trespasses of Israel the Gentiles have been grafted into the tree of life, so as to make the Israelites jealous. Paul continues: So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (Romans 11:11-12). Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. (Romans 11:13-16). But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (Romans 11:17-24). Jesus is the cultivated olive tree, and its branches include everyone, in every generation, who has been saved by God’s sovereign grace thru faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Therefore continue in His kindness, every day! Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! (Romans 11:33). “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he [or she] might be repaid?” (Romans 11:34-35). For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36). Blessed be the name of the Lord! For once you were lost, and He found you, and grafted you into His tree of life, according to His amazing grace! Amazing Grace, by John Newton, 1779: Amazing Grace! How Sweet The Sound That Saved A Wretch Like Me! I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found; Was Blind, But Now I See. ’Twas Grace That Taught My Heart To Fear, And Grace My Fears Relieved; How Precious Did That Grace Appear The Hour I First Believed. Through Many Dangers, Toils And Snares, I Have Already Come; ’Tis Grace Hath Brought Me Safe Thus Far, And Grace Will Lead Me Home. The Lord Has Promised Good To Me, His Word My Hope Secures; He Will My Shield And Portion Be, As Long As Life Endures. Yea, When This Flesh And Heart Shall Fail, And Mortal Life Shall Cease, I Shall Possess, Within The Veil, A Life Of Joy And Peace. The Earth Shall Soon Dissolve Like Snow, The Sun Forbear To Shine; But God, Who Called Me Here Below, Will Be Forever Mine. When We’ve Been There Ten Thousand Years, Bright Shining As The Sun, We’ve No Less Days To Sing God’s Praise Than When We’d First Begun. Blessed be the name of the Lord! For once you were lost, and He found you, and grafted you into His tree of life, according to His amazing grace! However Jesus’ own people rejected Him! He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus is the true light! The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:9-13). And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14). Jesus is holding out His hands to you, to receive you to glory! According to His amazing grace! Believe and obey and follow Him! All the days of your life! And you will enter into eternal life in heaven on the last day! To live there with Him for all of eternity to come! Guaranteed! He is your hope of glory! © Copyright by Ken Gilbert. All rights reserved.

View Less