First thing that hit me:
2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
OK. Could I say that? Would I give up my relationship with Christ, would I go to Hell, in order for “my people” – whomever that might be – to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven? I don’t know that I could. I so love my relationship with the Lord. That’s a really hard question. I realize that I certainly don’t deserve the grace He affords me. God has been growing my love for people over the last few years. Honestly, there was a time not too long ago, that I really didn’t care about the eternity of others, particularly people I didn’t know. But He’s working on me. Seeing what Papa does when He really gets a hold of a man’s heart continues to soften my heart for the salvation of others and burdens me for the health of men as husbands and fathers.
Second thing that hit me:
15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. 19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” 20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?
WHO AM I? “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose,” says the Lord God. He chose to show me both. He chose to show me what he showed me why? “… to spread my fame throughout the earth.” How’s that working in my life? Am I spreading His fame? Am I spreading His renown? Am I spreading His glory?
Sometimes.
Daddy, I’m glad you chose me to be a recipient of your mercy and compassion. I surrender control of it all. Use me in whatever way brings your fame on the earth. Whatever that looks like, I’m all in. I love you. Amen.