"Glory Forever" January 14 Readings: Romans 11:33-36

We are going to "enter the year with praise." Our January readings and devotionals will all focus on the goodness and grace of God. Get a journal or notebook to write down your thoughts every day. Our passages are shorter - please don't rush through them. Take time to meditate and consider why God is worthy of your praise.

Enter 2020 with the praise of God on your lips!

Today's Praise Passage:  Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments
and untraceable his ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?
36 For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Through the Bible Reading: Genesis 29-30, Matthew 10, Psalm 9:4–10, Proverbs2:12-15

Some of our readers want a little more "meaty" devotional, so I am including a link to the through Through the Bible in One Year readings we did last year. 

Devotional: Glory Forever!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 

If you are an old codger like me, you know the rest of that song, called the "Doxology." Doxos is the Greek word for glory and a doxology is a song or poem of praise to someone, especially to God. The Bible has many of them and Romans 11:33-36 may be among the greatest.

Romans 1-11 is the Bible's most in-depth examination of the great grace God showed us in salvation. It explores our depravity and sin in chapters 1-3, then the salvation that comes by grace through faith without the works of the law from the last verses of chapter 3 through chapter 5. The power of Christ to change our daily lives is examined in chapters 6-8 while chapters 9-11 delve into the eternal plan of God in Israel and in the church. These chapters give us a full-orbed view of God's great salvation.

Starting in chapter 12, we are instructed how to live in view of that salvation, in view of the "mercies of God." We must give our bodies as living sacrifices and no longer conform to this world. We must serve one another in the Body of Christ with the gifts God gave us and walk in love.

As Paul came to the end of his lengthy discussion of the gospel which is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, he breaks out into this doxology, this ancient song of praise. The salvation of God is so great that it defies our logic or understanding. We can never pay him back for all he has done. All we can do is give God glory forever and ever.

As you read this doxology, examine what it says about God, but remember the context of it. Paul is overwhelmed by the salvation we have in Christ, given not on the basis of our merit but by the work of Christ on the cross. Give thanks with a grateful heart for the salvation you have in Christ.

In the Old Testament, worship tends to root in the saving act of God in delivering Israel from Egypt. In the New Testament, it is God's saving act at the Cross that inspires our worship. It is when we survey the wondrous cross that our hearts are caught up in the truest praise.

Father, thank you for Jesus and for the cross on which he died. Because of him, I have life and hope and joy. I praise you today because of all he did for me. 

Think and Pray:

Meditate on this passage and write down:

1. The character qualities of God for which you can praise him. 

2. The gracious acts of God for which you can give thanks to him. 

Read the passage and consider what it says about God.
More importantly, meditate on the salvation you have in Christ and praise God from whom all blessings flow for your salvation.