There is Always More Than You Can See
Romans 11:1, I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
During the lifetime of the Apostle Paul, there were some believers who wrongly believed God was finished with the Jewish people because of their rejection of Christ. In other words, it looked like all the Jews had turned away from God. In this chapter of Romans, Paul explains God's larger purposes in His dealing with the Jewish people, but I would like to highlight something important for you today.
To counter the argument or false perception that all the Jews had turned away from God, Paul used the example of Elijah, who at one time in his life said out of distress and frustration, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” Look at God's response to his perception, “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Paul makes his point, "Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." He said this to those who thought God was finished with the Jews: God is always doing more than you can see.
This is also what I want to say to you. God is doing more than you can see, so do not draw conclusions from what you see, think, or feel. Part of my calling in life is to research, learn, teach, and do creative work. Almost everyday, I am learning things I did not know and discovering things that were always there, just not visible to me. These discoveries from Scripture and from life continue to shape my understanding, help me grow, and even change my thinking. Most of all, like Paul, I've come to appreciate there are always people who have not "bowed the knee" to false things.
As a pastor, one of my great disappointments has been observing the poor behavior of too many people who call themselves "Christians." As with Elijah and believers in Paul's day, it's not difficult to conclude that the state of how too many of us actually live is below God's standard, even when we show up to church services in the thousands or in the ten's. I've also had occasion to be disappointed in myself.
The most important truth to take away today is this: God's grace is bigger than people's failure, including your own failure. His "election of grace" is strong, meaning that what God has purposed to do in your life is present with you. Grace is not irresistible, as some teach, but it is VERY strong! We need to settle that truth in our hearts and give ourselves to God--spirit, soul, and body.
The key is to follow Jesus. Don't try to be a "Christian." Pursue Jesus as you would a meaningful relationship, be a doer of the Word of God, and let grace work in you.
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