February 20

Today's reading: Romans 9:1-33

Paul reminds us that not all descendants of Abraham are God's children. While Abraham had other sons, the promise that God made to Abraham to make him into a great nation who would bless the entire world was carried on only through Isaac, and  not Abraham's other sons. That was no because of anything that Isaac did, but instead completely a result of God's sovereignty.

In that sovereignty, God has the right to choose those to whom He will extend His grace and mercy and to not extend that to others. However that does not give anyone an excuse to sin against God or blame God because He has not "chosen" them. Those who are doomed to eternal punishment face that future only because they have refused to put their faith in Jesus.

That means that if you have put your faith in Jesus, you can't take any credit for that. So thank God that He has chosen you! On the other hand, if you haven't yet made that choice, it's not too late. Make sure you do that today!