The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage –  Romans 11:33-36 (day three)

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

I am sure that Paul had many of the words of Isaiah on his mind as he wrote this part of his letter (verse 34 is a quote of Isaiah 40:13). If you have time this week, I encourage you to read Isaiah 55 with Romans 11 in mind. In Isaiah 55, God tells us that salvation is an open invitation to anyone, even the wicked. Isaiah 55 is an open call for the wicked to turn and repent to receive salvation. If you have ever been badly mistreated or deeply wronged or witnessed the wickedness of people, I am certain that this thought can be a little hard to grasp at times. But that is not for us to know, and it is certainly not for us to condemn.

God goes on in verses 8 and 9 to remind us just how much higher His thoughts are than ours and how much we do not understand what He is doing. This, hopefully, gives you pause as you think about how truly great God is. We cannot fully comprehend it! He is on a whole other level that we cannot ever attain. It should also give us pause to remember that before we come to salvation through Jesus, we are all wicked! Isaiah 55 was written for us all to read and be reminded that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

Throughout our Romans study, our theme has been that the gospel is for all, especially for those still struggling in wickedness away from the Lord. Who do you know that is thirsty for the Lord? Who do you know that needs to turn to the Lord so that He may have mercy on them? Talk to that person today. Share with them Isaiah 55:6-7 as you do so.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 11:33-36 (day two) 

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. v. 36

This passage reminds us that the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge are beyond comprehension. It reminds us that there is so much unknowable about God, and yet we are allowed to participate in his work. Sometimes when I get around people who are more talented singers or conductors, better thinkers or writers, or just taller people in general, I tend to fall back and hide. Whether I don’t want to appear inadequate or just want to learn from them, I often choose not to participate. The Lord invites our participation. He has created us to be a part of the good work he is doing around us. Talk about incomprehensible! He does want us to grow and learn from his bounty, but he is not asking us to shrink away from full participation in the gospel. We will spend the rest of our lives trying to understand the mind of God, but it is on the job training! Give God the praise for his incredible love for you today.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day seven)

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Salvation is simple. We teach it to our children as the ABC’s of Christianity: Admit, Believe, Confess. That is directly from Romans and it is undoubtedly true. There is nothing else you have to do. What makes it so significant? Confessing that Jesus is your Lord is to pledge implicit obedience and fidelity to Him. What might become lost in the ABC’s is that if we equate stating “Jesus is Lord” as the same thing as confessing “Jesus is my Lord.” Those in the early church would not have used the word “Kurios” in relation to Jesus unless they truly meant it. We do not have the same reverence for the word Lord in modern vernacular. How then do we differentiate stating versus confessing? Transformation will accompany confession, because confession can only come from the Holy Spirit.

no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3b

Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day six).

“Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). ⁷ And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” ⁸ In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” Rom. 10:6-8

Paul borrows these questions from Deuteronomy 30, where Moses assures Israel that God’s word is not impossibly distant. They do not need someone to retrieve it from heaven or carry it back from beyond the sea. The word is already near, in their mouths and hearts.

Paul sees this promise fulfilled in Jesus. We do not need to ascend into heaven to bring the Messiah down; God has already sent him. We do not need to descend into death to raise him; God has already raised him from the grave.

God’s promised rescue has come near.

This is part of Paul’s larger assurance that God has not abandoned Israel or forgotten his covenant. In fact, God has fulfilled his promise through Israel’s Messiah and extended its blessing to the nations. Now the same risen Lord is near to everyone (Jew and Gentile) who calls upon him.

The gospel is not a distant treasure achieved through heroic effort. It is good news brought near by God’s faithfulness revealed in Jesus as the risen King, received by faith (full confidence in Jesus), and confessed with our mouths: Jesus is Lord. (And Caesar is not.)

Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day five). One of the things I really like about shopping on Amazon is the ease and simplistic way they have made returning an order. I have purchased dozens of things with the thought, “If I don’t like it or end up not wanting it, I can just return it.” It’s really for the most part, a no-hassle process. Click the button. I do it all the time. In fact, I am returning two items today because they turned out to be different than what I thought I was purchasing- not as advertised. I’ve also had items that didn’t work- they were defective. So I send them back.

I love verse 11 in our Re:Verse text. “For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”  The word choice of “disappointed” is interesting. Other translations and the original language use shame. But really, in the context of Paul’s writing it’s a better choice. Salvation through faith alone in Christ alone is NEVER disappointing. There is never shame, even though we are commanded to symbolically identify with one of the most shameful practices known to the Romans (take up our crosses daily). There is never a need or cause to regret or be disappointed in this commitment. Salvation is better than described. Salvation never fails- God’s provision and promises are true. In all my years of ministry, I’ve never heard someone say, “I wished I had not put all my faith and trust in Christ.”  How about you? Any shame or disappointment?  Have you experienced His faithfulness?  More reasons to thank and praise God today!!

Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day three)

Sorry, but I must go beyond the focused passage and look at verse 14. It is the mission verse in our ReVerse passage. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” The question is for you and the church. We are left to wonder “who will go?” The answer naturally should be that we are the ones Jesus assigned to the task. There are several problems we must solve: 1) Who has not heard the Gospel of Christ? 2) How will they hear and understand in their language? And 3) Who will be the preacher?

Are you willing to preach the Gospel where people have not yet heard? What will it take to reach the lost world who are dying every day without the Word of God to give them the faith required to be saved? The church is responsible to finish the Great Commission. You and I have the command from our Savior to Go. We must ask permission to stay where we are. There is no other name whereby men must be saved. There is only Jesus. It is the preaching of the Good News of Jesus that brings faith, causes someone to confess their sins and confess Jesus is Lord. As the scripture that is being quoted from Deuteronomy says, The Word is not far from you…it is in your heart and in your hands (paraphrased). We have been given the Truth and so we must be the ones to take it to those who do not yet have it. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to raise up laborers to go into His harvest field but be willing to answer the call yourself or you will be praying half-heartedly!

Let’s sacrifice it all for Jesus! He is worthy!

Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day three)

⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

In ministry with kids, I often talk with parents and leaders about gauging whether kids have “head knowledge” of the Bible and the truths therein, or if they have “heart knowledge” of these truths. In other words, do they know the content of the Bible as they know the content of a book they read or a test they studied for (head knowledge)? Or, more importantly, does that knowledge move them to an understanding of their hopelessness without Jesus (heart knowledge)?

Paul says here in verse 13 that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But what does that call mean or look like? It is more than simply stating that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead. We know that Satan and demons believe that Jesus is God’s Son and know that Jesus is not dead anymore (Luke 4; Luke 8:28; James 2:19), but they won’t be saved from God’s wrath. They have head knowledge of who Jesus is, but it has not brought them to repentance and acceptance of who He is.

So, salvation is more than head knowledge. It comes from the heart (verse 9). Salvation comes from knowing and understanding that we are utterly helpless on our own and gladly accepting of God’s gift of grace and righteousness through Jesus. Do you feel helpless without God? Do you feel the weight of the sin that separates you from Him without Jesus? I pray that, today and now, your heart knowledge moves you to repentance and acceptance of His gift of grace and righteousness!

Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day two)

 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” v. 11

Have I done enough? Has this question ever plagued you? Perhaps it was on a test, a job, a relationship; whatever it was, there may have been a nagging feeling like there was more that could have been done. Inevitably then, you are left wondering if what you have done will be rejected. This is not how we are designed to live in faith. One of the great truths of our calling in Jesus is that through him and by him we have security. We didn’t earn it, and we can’t lose it. Do you see how this should transform your outlook? Trying to do more to earn position or respect is exhausting. Knowing you are loved frees you to love and serve others. The ‘doing’ now becomes an outpouring of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you. Jesus is enough.