Study Desk

In the Scriptures God says to Pharaoh: "I made you king so that you could do this for me. I wanted to show my power through you. I wanted my name to be announced throughout the world."

So one of you will ask me, "If God controls what we do, why does he blame us for our sins?"

The one who makes the jar can make anything he wants. He uses the same clay to make different things. He might make one thing for special purposes and another for daily use.

Brothers and sisters, what I want most is for all the people of Israel to be saved. That is my prayer to God.

It says this because there is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. And he richly blesses everyone who looks to him for help.

But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for anyone to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them.

Again I ask, "Did the people of Israel not understand?" Yes, they did understand. First, Moses says this for God: "I will use those who are not really a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that does not understand to make you angry."

Then Isaiah is bold enough to say this for God: "The people who were not looking for me— they are the ones who found me. I made myself known to those who did not ask for me."

But what answer did God give to Elijah? God said, "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have never given worship to Baal."

It is not natural for a wild branch to become part of a good tree. But you non-Jewish people are like a branch cut from a wild olive tree. And you were joined to a good olive tree. But those Jews are like a branch that grew from the good tree. So surely they can be joined to their own tree again.

Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way.

Don't change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

Share with God's people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.

Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them.

My friends, don't try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says, "I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back."

And this is why you pay taxes too. Those rulers are working for God, and they give all their time to the work of ruling.

I say this because you know that we live in an important time. Yes, it is now time for you to wake up from your sleep. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Those who think one day is more important than other days are doing that for the Lord. And those who eat all kinds of food are doing that for the Lord. Yes, they give thanks to God for that food. And those who refuse to eat some foods do that for the Lord. They also give thanks to God.

We don't live or die just for ourselves.