A Remnant Chosen by Grace

By Words of Hope, Friday, November 10, 2006

Read: Romans 11:1-10 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (v. 5)

Have you ever made your own yogurt? All it takes is two tablespoons of yogurt added to the proper amount of fresh milk. The bacteria in the yogurt will multiply and permeate the warm milk to produce a new batch.

In Romans 11, Paul is continuing his struggle to understand why so many of his compatriots have not become believers in Jesus. This chapter sounds a more positive note. He emphasizes that God has never completely rejected his people. Even in Israel's darkest days at the time of Elijah, for example, there were seven thousand God-fearing Israelites. In Paul's own day, he and many other Jews are believers in Jesus.

Paul calls these small groups "a remnant chosen by grace." God has always had such a remnant, and he always will. Paul sees these groups like yogurt starter, whose task is to permeate God's original people, the Jews, and to keep his gracious message alive among them.

That's still true today. There are groups of messianic Jews who have a burden for reaching their own people for Jesus. God remains faithful to his message of grace, and he will continue to call his ancient people to salvation in Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray today particularly for those who are preaching Jesus to the Jewish people. Amen.

Used with Permission