FAITHFUL, IN SPITE OF US
Carey Madding
Today’s Scripture: “For this is what the promise said: ‘About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.’” Romans 9:9, ESV
Theme: God is unchanging. Rather than bending to our suggestions, He uses flawed people like Abraham and Sarah to accomplish His will anyway.
CHANGED, BUT THEN NOT
When I was seven years old, I chose Jesus as Savior during a revival service at my church. I am certain I did not fully understand what it meant to make Him Lord of all areas of my life, but I knew I was to be changed. On Sunday, I was baptized. As I walked to school with my friend and neighbor, I told him about my baptism service. He said: “Oh, well then you can never lie again.” (Not sure if I had a lying problem before then, but I remember being terrified I would mess up!) And guess what? I have lied since then. I have messed up in so many ways. I have refused to make Jesus Lord over some area of my life that I really wanted to keep, like a TV series that I knew I should quit watching but did not give up right away. Yet, I am certain I still belong to Him.
GOD IS FAITHFUL WHEN WE ARE NOT
As we see with Sarah and Abraham, we can take matters into our own hands and sin. Often, we are trying to work things out for ourselves. We try to make ourselves happy by trying sinful things instead of living as God requires. We try to finagle our finances instead of trusting God’s plan, which includes the tithe. Yet God still loves us. He still uses us. He still calls us His children, even when we sin. He is faithful when we do not keep faith with Him.
Through Sarah and Abraham and their son Isaac, the promise was fulfilled. God created a chosen people and through that line, He gave us the Messiah. We are now His chosen people, because we have believed in the Name of His only Son, Jesus.
THE PROMISE
The Apostle Paul writes: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29, ESV). And in the Psalms we read: “If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips” (Psalm 89:30-34, ESV).
Make It Personal: Aren’t you glad we have a God who can look past our sin and even our conniving? Who can love unconditionally? Because of His great faithfulness, we are chosen, beloved, eternally redeemed and alive. What do you owe so great a love? Check out what Paul says this sacrifice requires in the Read section below.
Pray: Father God, thank You for the grace and mercy which You have shown me time and time again. When I, like Sarah and Abraham, take matters into my own hands, You gently call me back to Your righteous ways. Your loving kindness leads me to repentance, and You welcome me back to a right relationship with You. I love You and I thank You for sending Your Son to rescue me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: Romans 12
Weekly Memory Verse: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8, ESV