Romans 11:11-15 :: Wrongs Turned Right

Romans 11:11-15

Matthew Henry says, “The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is.”  Paul is using the Israelite people to show the Gentiles that God takes even the worst of situations and turns them for good.  There failure was not fatal, and God will use it for even greater good when they return to their first love.

This is a pattern for God throughout history.  What we think should be counted as loss, Father turns to gain.  This picture of the Israelites is really a picture of human history.  The first humans, Adam and Eve, failed, but through them, God brought salvation to all of us.  David chose not to go to battle with his soldiers, saw a man’s wife bathing, had sex with her, then murdered her husband...then denied it even happening.  Can you imagine a world leader doing that today?  Yet, Scripture is clear to point that our Savior comes through the line of this very same David.  Then Christ, steps in and turns our failure around.  He sets everything right, while we are still wrong.  It really is amazing.

Do you still think it’s possible for God to redeem your wrongs, or do you think your mistakes are too big?  Do you have friends that struggle with Christianity, not because of God, but because of things they have done or are doing in their past?  This paralyzation is not from God, but from the enemy who desires nothing more than keep you from being who God wants you to be and living in the freedom of his setting-all-things-right.

I accidentally posted this portion yesterday.  My apology if it seemed to make no sense to you....

Have you ever thought about how the mistakes of some open the door for many other people sometimes?  I have talked to many people who came to a faith-based relationship with God later in their life who looked at another person as an incredible example because they could understand their mistakes because they had made them also.  If you have been prone to bad choices in your life, God can use those bad choices as an open door for others if you let him.  If he can do that with bad choices, imagine what he can do with right choices!

Matthew19::Divorce

Matthew 19

Have you ever read something, knowing that you had the opportunity to post something and you could hardly make it through because you were so excited to write about what you were reading? Yeah, that's not me this morning.

Jesus' teaching in chapter nineteen is difficult. It's difficult to discuss when over 2/3 of marriages in our culture end in divorce. I hope you know that I do not take this subject lightly, nor do I expect the teaching to sit well with everyone who reads these words. I do, however, want to respond to what I read in the first twelve verses this morning.

The Pharisees were badgering Jesus again, hoping to catch him in a slip-up when it comes to the letter of the Mosaic Law. They ask if it's legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. These were not honest, broken people who are struggling in a marriage that exhibits nothing but heartache, anger, frustration, pain, etc.. These were men with an agenda - and the agenda had nothing to do with marriage.

Jesus responds directly to these men. There is no need to be sensitive, no need to be compassionate and no need to be empathetic. He states the letter of the law emphatically back to them. A man and woman were made for a union that was not intended to be broken by anything. Concessions were made because of our hardheartedness, not by God's design. If there is infidelity in the marriage, there is wiggle room when it comes to divorce. If there is not, it doesn't appear so according to the law. It is important to remember that permission is a concession, not part of God's plan. There you go. You have your answer to all your questions. You can call Elin Woods and tell her that she has permission to divorce Tiger.

How are we supposed to respond to this? What if we weren't Christians when we got married, are we still bound to the same "laws" that govern a Christ-follower? What if one spouse is not a Christ-follower? What if there is abuse? What if we just can't get along? What if...what if...what if...what if? I realize that we can come up with all kinds of scenarios to fit our situation and make our situation sound different and more justified. The bottom line is the bottom line, though...isn't it?

Based on my reading of this passage, I know that divorce is not God's plan. Period. It's not his plan in ANY situation. If we divorce, we fall short of God's plan for our marriage. If we divorce, we miss the mark that was intended. If we divorce, we sin. In eight days, we will read a chapter that explains what happened to that sin. We will see how ugly our divorce was in the eyes of the Father. We will see what our divorces cost. The price tag on our divorce is no different than the price tag on my slander, or my gossip, or my lust, or my jealousy, or my...or my...or my... If you have never been through a divorce and feel like you've got a special place in God's little world because of your "faithfulness," remember that the log in your eye might just be blocking your view. If you have been divorced, I hope you know that the Father has not left you or turned his back on you. He still has plans for you and His purposes in you do not have to be thwarted because of a failure on your part OR a failure on the part of your spouse.

If it's a struggle right now and you don't see hope, it's still there. Father can redeem the most dire of situations and breathe life into any relationship. If you have been wronged or violated, you have every right to be angry, hurt, upset and maybe to even leave, but God might have something larger in store for you. If you have wronged or violated your spouse, you screwed up. Yes. But it's not the end of His relationship with you. Father wants you...He wants your heart. He wants to redeem you through humility. Don't give up.

I realize that it's hardly fair to open up a subject like this, but I wanted to remain faithful to my commitment through this book - read and open up what stands out to me. I know I could have studied more and brought more to the discussion. I could have probably been more sensitive or more definitive in spots, but this is where I am and what I felt like sharing. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts. We are not Pharisees trying to trick you, but we would love to hear your heart regarding this sensitive subject. What has Father taught you?