ELECTION

Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.  This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.  Romans 9:7-8

         I’ve known this major section of Romans was coming.  Of all passages in scripture, Romans 9-11 are the most difficult to understand.  Election, God’s choosing some to be His children and passing over others, is a huge stumbling block to many believers.  This is the very teaching that causes a breach in their relationship with God.  They rise up in judgment rather than seek understanding.

         The Holy Spirit will help each of us understand His Word.  I don’t know how He will do it except I’m counting on His faithfulness.  Just as we’ve taken the first section of Romans verse by verse, we will jump into this section one verse at a time as well.  I need your prayers and want to assure you that you have my prayers as you learn along with me.

         If you have kept God at arm’s length because the doctrine of election appears to be unloving, I pray that these next weeks will vindicate the justice of God in how He chooses to act.  God rules righteously.  This ~ we must take by faith as we begin to look at something we don’t understand.

         James Boice, a present day theologian, argues that all of life is about election.  When I feel moved to witness to one family member, I am doing so with an unconscious decision to pass others over.  When Jesus sent out the disciples to Samaria, Asia, and Antioch, these cities were chosen over other possibilities.  When Jesus chose the twelve disciples, it was to the exclusion of thousands of others who would have benefitted from three years with Jesus.  And yet, by choosing twelve, few would argue that Jesus was cruel to the masses.

         I am convinced that any struggle I have with ‘election’ is because of my limited perception.  I’ll never know until eternity why Jesus chose twelve disciples and why he chose you, and me, to be His present day disciples.  Quite frankly, this makes evangelism easier, not harder.  When I sow the seed of the Gospel, those who are supposed to respond – will.  Their ears will be opened by the wind of the Spirit and spiritual understanding will hit them with a wave of such force that they will fall to their knees.

Holy Father, I worship You no matter what You do.  Though human perception screams to prove Your guilt, I will not bite the apple of unbelief.  Amen