"When I Fall" August 22 Readings: Song of Songs 1-2, Romans 11:11–36, Psalm 99, Proverbs 21:1–3

Today's Readings - Song of Songs 1-2, Romans 11:11–36, Psalm 99, Proverbs 21:1–3

Devotional 

Israel was given the Law of God and called to obey it. They were chosen as God's people so that they would bring a blessing to the world. But they failed in every way - time and time again. They departed from God and delved into idolatry and wickedness. Once in a while, God would bring them back in revival, but soon after whoever led the people back to God was gone, they wandered back into sin.

If ever God was going to give up on someone, to turn his back once and for all on them, it would have been Israel. They deserved it. They were unfaithful far more than they were obedient. They tested God's patience beyond what anybody could be expected to endure.

But God never gave up on his people. Romans 11 examines the faithfulness of God. In verse 11 Paul asks a question.

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means!

There was no way that God was going to give up on his chosen people no matter how they tried his patience or tested his limits.

Back in chapter 6 and 7, Paul made it clear that no person redeemed by Christ ought to ever use his salvation as an excuse for sin. God's faithfulness does not authorize our worldliness. But it is a comfort to sinful people like to know that God is a faithful God. I sin, I fail, I fall, but his love endures and his grace restores.

Romans 11 tells us that even though Israel fell so far that God would set them aside for a time while the full number of Gentiles was brought into God's kingdom, it was still his plan to restore them. "All Israel will be saved" he promised in verse 26.  God would completely revive his people and fulfill his purposes in them.

He will do the same in me and in you! Even though I am often a spiritual failure, he continues to work in me by his grace and determines to finish the work of transformation he began. The amazing, unbelievable, inexhaustible, incomparable, and inexpressible faithfulness of God carries me even when my knees tremble and my faith falters.

Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and grace. Reform me, restore me, revive me, renew me.

Think and Pray

Thank God for his eternal faithfulness and grace.
Consider the constant faithlessness and sin of Israel. If God did not give up on them, can you trust him to continue to show his grace to you?