God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Rom. 11:2-6
Heavenly Father, this portion of your Word underscores our constant need to remember the all-by-grace-ness of our salvation. Occasionally, like Elijah, we look for something in ourselves to boast in—some basis to explain why you love us. We see ourselves better than others, or at least as not as bad as most.
At other times we know ourselves to be completely ill deserving—faithless idolaters, not worshiping Baal, but trusting in worthless idols that have no life, and cannot give life. “How could we possibly be yours,” we reason?
Then, like a rebuke from heaven, or a kiss from you, we hear the Holy Spirit speak these words to our hearts: “As in the days before Elijah, of Elijah, and long after Elijah, I have kept for myself a big family to love and cherish forever. Their only boast is Jesus; their only hope is my grace; their sure home is my heaven.”
Some of them have Israeli passports, but most don’t. In fact, no nation or people group will be excluded from your family—so great is your commitment to be Redeemer. Our only claim to being your children is that you found us, saved us, and keep us, by grace. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Father, because of past grace, present grace, and future grace, we want to live with bowed knees and palms up, before you. Grace will remain grace forever. Hallelujah! So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and loving name.
