The Book of Romans: A 16 Day DevotionalSample

God’s Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:14 says, “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!” Throughout the chapter of Romans 9, there is a wrestle with whether the decisions of God are just and fair in relation to the elect.

In verse 13, it says, “Just as it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated'.” Earlier in the chapter, it implies that Jacob was chosen, while Esau was rejected in the womb, a predetermined election by God for the fulfillment of God’s plan through Christ Jesus.

That allows for OUR reasoning to wrestle with the fairness of God’s wrath, without a conscious understanding of the difference between human reasoning, in comparison to God’s reasoning. From our fleshly perspective compared to a heavenly perspective.

Ezekiel 18:30 sheds a clearer perspective saying, “... I will judge each of you according to your own ways.... turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall." Ezekiel 18:32 says, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

We all still have our choices in our lives. We have free will to choose what we do every day. It is also a choice to choose God’s plan that has already been set out for us. God’s purpose is to show that He loves us because while we are still sinners, Jesus died for us. His purpose is to make it all grace.

Reflection
We are saved by grace so that we can continue to show grace to others. Think about how you can show grace to those around you.