Romans 11 - 5.21.25

Scripture: Romans 11:6

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Observation

Over and over in the book of Romans, Paul reminds us that it is only through God’s grace that we are saved.

Romans 3:10 As it is written:“There is no one righteous (free from guilt or sin), not even one;

Following the law will not save us, because we are imperfect and incapable of perfection. God is perfect.

Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

Good works will not save us. We cannot work our way into God’s love and forgiveness. We cannot save ourselves. We need a savior.

Romans 4:6-8 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

All we have to do is believe and ask.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Application

I am so blessed to have my sins forgiven. And yet, I still struggle sometimes to understand and accept that forgiveness. I cannot comprehend how God can continue to forgive me when I don’t deserve it. But really, that is the point. I don’t deserve it. I never deserved it. And there’s no way I can ever do enough to deserve it. I continually try to make it about me, when it is really about Him - his love, his forgiveness, his grace, his righteousness.

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Prayer

Thank you God that your mercies are new every morning. I am blessed because my sins have been forgiven. I am blessed to serve a righteous and holy God who hates sin, but loves me enough to show me grace. I am blessed to serve a God who has patience as I struggle and grow and learn. Thank you that through faith I can have relationship with you. Thank you for your grace.

- Debbie Dunn

Psalm 109 - 5.20.25

SCRIPTURE:  In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. Psalm 109:4

OBSERVATION:  In this Psalm, David is pleading with God to help him during a time when he is wrongly accused, hated without cause, and being attacked at every angle. This Psalm might have been penned while David was being persecuted by Saul or when his son, Absalom, rebelled against him. David is acknowledging the wrongs that are being done against him, yet he goes directly to God in prayer. He is recognizing God’s Sovereignty, power, and protection by being a man of prayer.

Even through all he endured, David’s response is “but I am a man of prayer.” The “but” is countering the accusations and wrongs being done against him. He could have said “but I will get revenge” or “but I will make them pay.” No, he didn’t take matters into his own hands but knowing that God holds all the power in life, he went to prayer. David knew the most important action he could do was to reach out to God in prayer.

APPLICATION:  David’s example in this one little verse says it all: his first line of defense was prayer. I can’t imagine all that he went through and the personal pain he felt – the betrayal by those he thought loved him. He went through a lot yet David reflects a deeply humble heart and knows that God is the one who can protect and rescue him. He didn’t go after his accusers with personal revenge, but he prayed. He not only prayed for protection but he also was praying for those doing the terrible things against him. He didn’t seek his own justice against anyone, but he prayed God’s justice would prevail. David’s response to all the atrocities he suffered was to pray.

When we pray to God, we’re acknowledging He has power over every situation in life. He can move, change, save, and protect. David knew this very well and ultimately all that he went through is encompassed in verses 26 – 27. He wanted God to have all the glory and recognition in saving him:

26 Help me, Lord my God;
    save me according to your unfailing love.
27 Let them know that it is your hand,
    that you, Lord, have done it.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the opportunity to come before your throne and pray! Lord, thank you for loving me through everything – even in times of trials and the challenges in life. Help me to be a person of prayer in every situation in life. Lord, you are above it all. Help me to always come to you and to pray for those who have done anything against me or my family. Let each person come to know you and see your hand in each situation. You deserve all the glory, honor and praise. In Jesus name! Amen

- Mary Oberg

Romans 9 - 5.19.25

Scripture

Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”

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Observation

This passage speaks on the Sovereignty of God.

God being sovereign means that He is in control of everything!

“The fact that God is sovereign essentially means that He has the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses within His creation. Whether or not He actually exerts that level of control in any given circumstance is actually a completely different question.”(Gotquestions.org)

I personally don’t believe that God causes bad things to happen because bad things happen due to us living in a fallen and sinful world. However, why does God ALLOW bad things to happen without intervention? Or another question is the theological debate of predestination and free will. Does God in His sovereignty predetermine who will be saved and who will go to hell or do we have the free will to decide? There are theological arguments for both sides because we will never know the extent to which God applies His sovereignty; however, “all mainstream Christian sects agree that God is preeminent in power and authority. God’s sovereignty is a natural consequence of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence.” (Gotquestions.org)

Application

Meditate on the character of God when we have unanswered questions. Also, read His Word, the Bible!

When I look back on my life and even current circumstances, sometimes I ask God if He could’ve taught me certain lessons without having to go through so much pain, hardship and grief. There are still so many unanswered questions and I know that as long as I’m living on this earth, more will come, but at the end of the day, I must TRUST in His Sovereignty and control even if I don’t get those answers this side of Heaven. He remains good, loving and faithful! Also, I need to thank Him for my trials because I know He is in control of them and making me more into the image of Jesus through them. There is always hope in Christ, even in the midst of grief.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” -‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Another thing I love to do is to be in His Word. I’ve developed a deeper love for reading Scripture, especially knowing the joy the writers had even THROUGH their circumstances. For example, Joseph! He was the definition of being wrongly accused and oppressed. He was truly a major victim of his circumstances. Yet, he knew the Lord was with him and what his brothers meant for evil, God turned for good. I love reading the Psalms because King David wrote many of those while fleeing his enemies. He still worshipped with his whole heart and soul regardless of what he was going through. I love reading the New Testament (because the Gospels with Jesus, of course), but also the Apostle Paul! He still ministered even in jail and was able to have joy in the Lord no matter what God allowed him to go through. I love reading about Jesus and what a humble king He was. He is God and wasn’t even protected from disappointment, rejection, grief and hurt. He endured the ultimate rejection and abandonment when God turned His face from Him when He took the penalty for our sins! I could go on and on, and I know that many of you who read His Word could add to my list as well. 😊

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your Sovereignty and power! I know that I’m not meant to understand everything and I know I wouldn’t be able to handle it even if you told me, but I’m grateful that I could rest in You. You are ultimately in control of it all. I pray that in times that don’t make sense, I would continue to run to You, Your Word and just worship You for who You are just like my brothers and sisters in the past did, with the power of Your Holy Spirit. I love You Jesus. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi