Romans 11:1-2a
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.” vs. 1
Some folks in the early church had come to the conclusion that because Jesus had been rejected by his own people, God had in return rejected them. They believed that Israel had lost its unique status and been replaced by the Church of Christ. Paul argues against such a notion, noting that, quite obviously, he had not been rejected, and he was a descendant of Abraham and a proud member of the tribe of Benjamin. God was, in fact, using him and other Jewish Christians to spread the gospel to the nations…which had been God’s intention all along. It’s a reminder for us that God is not in the business of rejecting, and that God continues to use people, often in surprising ways, in establishing the kingdom. It is true that people do reject their baptisms and even become hostile toward Christianity, sometimes with good reason. But the Holy Spirit of God never gives up on the elect and regularly works through such persons to bring healing to the hurting and love to the lonely. Many times, even some of those who call themselves atheists become lifelong servants of goodness and mercy, and for that we give constant thanks and praise to God. Our God is not a petty tribal God but the mighty Lord of the Universe!
Thought for the Day: Why might people reject their baptisms?
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