Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Do you like to be in charge? Whether you answered yes or no, the one thing we all like to be in charge of is our lives. We dedicate our lives to planning our next move and working hard to see it come to fruition. Our spiritual walk requires the same hard work and dedication, but we can find ourselves making our own path without ever including God. I’m always trying to force the square shape into the circular hole. It’s easy to make my spiritual walk one that is all about “ME.” I can choose to do things my way in order to “help” God reach the desired goal. We like to be the captain of the ship and decide where to chart our course. And because we let God ride with us, we think we have done something noble. We like to steer the ship towards the comfortable, the familiar, and what suits our schedule best. Chapter 9 reveals an important truth regarding this power struggle.

There is a lot to take in in Chapter 9, but the overarching theme is that the God we serve is a sovereign God. Now whether you grew up in church, came once that time they had a potluck dinner, or had nothing to do with church, you may have heard the word, “sovereign.” It’s one of those words that creep into your vocabulary and stays there without ever truly explaining itself. What is a sovereign, and where can I buy one? According to a quick Google search, sovereign is “to possess supreme or ultimate power; acting or done independently and without outside interference.” Sovereignty is the ultimate overseer, or authority, in the decision-making process. As you read scripture you come to this realization: while we don’t have the answers or understanding for everything, God does.

I want to look at verses 6-13. Here, Paul is referencing the story of Abraham and speaking of the chosen nation of Israel. In verse 8 he says, “It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” In Genesis 15, Abram, not yet Abraham, was promised by God to be the father of many descendants. Impatiently waiting on spiritual intervention and looking to bring about God’s promised son, Abram has a child with Sarai’s maid, Hagar. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael, or the child of the flesh, rather than the child of the promise. In Genesis 17, Abraham is promised a son by Sarah(formerly known as Sarai), and through spiritual intervention (Alexa, play “God’s Plan"), Isaac is born. If you recall, it is from the line of Isaac that the son promised by God - the son of God -  Jesus, was born. You know...the One who was sent to save us all? Paul says in Galatians 4:28-29, “You [Christians], like Isaac, are children of promise.” You are “born according to the Spirit,” not according to the flesh.

Instead of trusting the will of a sovereign God, we want to do things our way, as seen by Abraham and Sarah. If I go left or right, choose right or wrong, God knows that decision. I can look back at my life and see how God has used all circumstances to lead me to where I am today. Jesus died for us and then rose again. I have never died, and I suspect when I do that you won’t see me walking around a few days later. Doesn’t that truth alone mean I have to follow Him and everything He says with reckless abandon? Follow Him, continue to work out your faith in Him, but always look to the sovereign God for the decisive, supernatural work. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Take a few moments to reflect on the sovereignty of God. Read Isaiah 55:8-11.
• Prayer: God, let Your will be done in our lives. Help us to remember that You are God, and while we may not understand every circumstance, we trust in Your will and Your goodness. Help our unbelief, and as we comb through Your Word, help our trust in Your character become more concrete daily. Take the helm of our ship as we offer our humble servitude no matter the cost. We love You!

Family Devo: Romans 9

By: Cody Smith

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset

Head

Romans Chapter 9 is a thought-provoking chapter where the apostle Paul addresses the topic of God's sovereignty in choosing His people. Paul expresses his deep sorrow and anguish for the Jewish people who have not embraced Jesus as the Messiah. He explains that God's plan of salvation is not based solely on human effort or lineage but on God's mercy and purpose. Paul uses the examples of Isaac and Jacob to illustrate God's divine election. He emphasizes that God has the right to show mercy to whom He chooses, and His plan extends to both Jews and Gentiles.

Heart

As we explore Romans Chapter 9, it's important to approach it with an open and humble heart. We may have questions and find it challenging to fully grasp God's sovereignty and His ways. But we can trust that God's love and mercy are vast and beyond our understanding. Let this chapter remind us of the depth of God's love for all people, including those who have not yet accepted Jesus. It stirs our hearts to have compassion for those who have yet to encounter the saving grace of Christ.

Hands

The message of Romans Chapter 9 inspires us to have a missional mindset. Just as Paul had a burden for the salvation of his fellow Jews, we can also carry a burden for those who do not know Jesus, regardless of their background. Let us intentionally share Christ's love with others, both through our words and actions. We can pray for those who have not yet encountered Jesus, asking God to reveal His truth to them. Let us be ready and willing to share the hope and joy we have in Christ, extending His love to all people.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as we reflect on Romans 9, we acknowledge Your sovereignty and trust in Your divine plan. Give us hearts of compassion for those who have not yet experienced Your love and salvation. Help us to share the hope of Jesus with others and to pray earnestly for their hearts to be opened. May our lives reflect Your love and grace, drawing others into a relationship with You. In Jesus' name, amen.