the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Romans 11:1-15
In spite of their unbelief, Israel has not been finally rejected. The apostle was himself proof of what grace could still do for a rebellious Jew (v. 1). In former days Elijah had deceived himself in thinking that the whole of the people had turned away from the LORD. In his discouragement poor Elijah had come to the point of making "intercession to God against Israel" (vv. 2, 3). But what grace in the "answer of God" (v. 4)! In every age the Lord has kept for Himself a faithful remnant who refuse to bow down before the idols of the world. Are we in that company at the present time (v. 5)? V. 9 gives us an example of what these idols may be: the pleasures of the table become a snare for unbelievers, and Psalms 69:22 adds "that which should have been for their welfare" becomes a trap for them.
After many appeals, Israel has finally become blinded, resulting in blessing for the Gentiles. But the burning desire of the apostle remained as follows: that the jealousy of the Jewish people towards the new beneficiaries of salvation (jealousy from which he had suffered so much himself: Acts 13:45; Acts 17:5; Acts 22:21-22) might provoke them to seek again the grace which up to then they had despised (v. 14; Romans 10:19).
May the sight of our blessings awaken the envy of all those around us.
