Scripture:
Romans 11:25-36; 9:4-8
Thu, 22 September 2022

The Salvation of Israel

Observation:

Who was the Apostle Paul referring to when he wrote concerning “Israel” (vv.25, 26. Cf. Rom 9:4-8)?

Deeper Reflection
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS ADDRESSING GENTILE CHRISTIANS regarding the right attitude and perspective concerning the people of Israel. The Gospel has gone out to the Gentiles for a period due to the “partial hardening” (v.25) of the hearts of the Israelites. “Partial” because there have been many Jews who have turned to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ since His First Coming. Before the Lord’s Second Coming, the hearts of many more Jews will no longer be hardened and they will believe the Gospel. The full number of Jewish Christians will thus enter the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ: “In this way, all Israel will be saved” (v.26). Paul refers to “all Israel” because with his Godgiven perspective he understood that “not all who are descended from Israel [the patriarch Jacob] belong to Israel [the group of redeemed descendants]” (Rom 9:6). Just because a person is a physical offspring of Abraham does not automatically make him or her a spiritual offspring of Abraham (Rom 9:7). One is a spiritual offspring of Abraham if one shares Abraham’s faith in the Word of God, and is thereby a child of the promise and a child of God.32 “It is not the children of the flesh [of Abraham] who are the children of God” (Rom 9:8). It is the children of the promise who are counted as Abraham’s spiritual offspring and who are in fact the children of God (Rom 9:8).Therefore, let the Church not neglect to pray and work for the salvation of Abraham’s descendants – for their hearts to be softened and believe in the Gospel.
32 See also Romans 4; Galatians 3.
Application:

How can I pray for and reach out to the people of Israel?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To show and tell of the mercy of God to all people that they may receive it
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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