The Word for Today with Ray

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Why Does God Yet Find Fault? Romans 9:19

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome how God, “the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth”, and he added, “Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.” In chapter nine and verse nineteen of Romans, Paul referred to the way his readers ask him, “Why does he yet find fault?” where we read:

You will say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?

The verse begins, “You will say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault?” Paul began with the word, “you will say” which means “Paul's reader's shall utter, proclaim and declare” “then unto me” which means “therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so toward Paul”, “Why” or “For what reason” “does he yet” or “does God still, even now, further and hereafter” “find fault” which means “blame”. Paul referred to how his readers would ask “for what reason does God blame” people whom He “hardens”.

The verse goes on to say, “For who has resisted his will?” Paul continued with the words, “for” which means “because and since” “who has resisted” which means “what person withstands, opposes or set himself in opposition against” “his will” or “God's resolve, counsel and purpose”. Paul asked what person “withstands or stands in opposition against” the “will of God”?.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see the question his readers might ask, “why does God blame” people whom He has “made firm” in their decision against Him? A relationship with God through His Son Jesus is available to everyone, and when a person receives Him as “Savior and Lord”, they have not “opposed” or “resisted” Him. If they continually refuse to receive Him, He will “harden” them or “make them firm” in their decision, and no one is able to “resist His will”.

Next time we see Paul ask his readers, “who are you that reply against God?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

God has Mercy and Hardens Romans 9:18

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome how God, “the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might shew my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth”, and in chapter nine and verse eighteen of Romans, Paul concludes with his readers how God, “has … mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens” where we read:

Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

The verse begins, “Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, ...” Paul began with the word, “therefore” which means “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “has he mercy” whose name means “God has pity and compassion” “on whom” or “on the person or people” “he will have mercy” or “that God decides to have pity and compassion upon”. Paul concluded that God has “pity and compassion” on whomever He desires.

The verse goes on to say, “... and whom he will he hardens.” Paul continued with the words, “and whom” which means “and the person or people” “he will” which means “God intends, resolves, determines, purposes, wishes, desires and take delight in pleasure in” “he hardens” or “God make hard, renders obstinate and stubborn”. Paul shared how God may also “make firm” those who desire to be “obstinate and stubborn”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how God chooses people upon which He desires to show “compassion and pity”, and should a person decide to be “obstinate and stubborn”, He can choose to “make them firm and established” in that position. Pharaoh “hardened” his own heart ten times in the book of Exodus before God “hardened” or made him “firm” in that position. God may do the same today. If a person is resistant to the gospel of Jesus Christ over and over again, God may allow them to be “hardened” in their “stubbornness” and they shall forever be doomed and separated from Him. “Today is the day of salvation”, and today is the day to submit to Jesus Christ as “Savior and Lord”. To deny Him is to reject Him, and lest God “harden” one in that position, let them accept Him today before it is too late.

Next time we see Paul refer to his readers asking, “why does he yet find fault?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Pharaoh Raised Up for a Purpose Romans 9:17

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome how God, “said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion”, and in chapter nine and verse seventeen of Romans, Paul told his readers how, “the scripture says unto Pharaoh” … “for this same purpose have I raised you up” where we read:

For the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

The verse begins, “For the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, seeing then, no doubt, verily and therefore” “the scripture” or “a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture”, “says” which means “teaches, exhorts, advises, commands and directs” “unto Pharaoh” which means “his nakedness” and was “was a common title of the native kings of Egypt”, “Even for” or “because and since toward” “this same purpose” which means “the selfsame reason and account” “have I raised you up” or “God aroused, stirred up and incited Pharaoh”. Paul referred to the “scripture” (Exodus 9:16) to demonstrate how God “stirred up” Pharaoh.

The verse continues, “...that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” Paul continued with the words, “that I might show” which means “so God could point out, demonstrate, prove, manifest and display” “my power” or “God's strength and ability to perform miracles” “in you” or “within Pharaoh”, “and that my name” which refers to “so everything which God's name covers including the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellence and deeds” “might be declared” or “could be published abroad, announced everywhere and in every place” “throughout all” which means “by and with each, every, the whole and everywhere in” “the earth” or “the inhabited land of men and animals”. God's reason for “stirring up” Pharaoh was to “announce and proclaim” to the world His “strength and ability to perform miracles” and that His “name” would be known everywhere by everyone.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see his reference to Exodus chapter nine and verse sixteen, “And in very deed for this cause have I raised you up, for to show in you my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth” (Exodus 9:16) as he showed God's ability to choose “Pharaoh” for His own “purposes”. God desired for “everyone” in the world to know His character, power and “name”, and He used “Pharaoh of Egypt” to show it. God has chosen Jesus Christ His Son to demonstrate His ability,strength and power over “death”, and because Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, when God raised Him from the dead, He displayed His power for all the world to see. God uses people for His purposes, and when He does, those who recognize His work should humble themselves before Him and receive His awesome display of power and strength to do miracles and save.

Next time we see Paul concludes God has, “mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

God that Shows Mercy Romans 9:16

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome concerning Rebecca's sons, “The elder shall serve the younger”, and he added, “as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Paul questioned, “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?”, and he answered “God forbid”, and he answered, “For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. In chapter nine and verse sixteen of Romans, Paul told his readers, “God that shows mercy” where we read:

So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.

The verse begins, “So then it is not of him that wills, ...” Paul began with the words, “so then it is not” which means “therefore it is in no way” “of him” which means “pertaining to a certain person” “that wills” or “who has in mind, resolves, determines, purposes and desires”. Paul told his readers the person's “desire and resolve” is not the determining factor for God's “mercy”.

The verse continues, “... nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. ” Paul continued with the words, “nor of him” which means “not and in no way pertaining to the certain person” “that runs” which means “”who spends their strength in performing or attaining something or incurs extreme peril which requires the exertion of all their effort to overcome”, “but” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “that shows mercy” which means “who helps one who is afflicted, seeks aid and brings aid to the wretched”. Paul included those who “use their strength to perform, attain or incur something” as futile effort, and yet, it was God who demonstrated “pity and compassion” upon people.

When we think through upon these words of Paul, we see how a person's “desire” and “effort” are not what brings about the “mercy and compassion” of God. God shows His “mercy” upon whom He desires, and He is “compassionate” to whomever He wills. God initiates His “mercy and compassion” through His Son Jesus, and those who receive Him as their “Savior and Lord” shall know the “mercy and compassion” of God. It is God who “shows mercy”, and no amount of works or desire from a person shall ever be able to obtain it. Those who are wise shall accept God's provision of “mercy” through His Son Jesus, and those who are not shall “will” and “run” to no avail.

Next time we see Paul tell his readers what the scriptures, “said unto Pharoah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Mercy and Compassion Upon Whom God Desires Romans 9:15

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome concerning Rebecca's sons, “The elder shall serve the younger”, and he added, “as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Because of these statements Paul questioned, “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?”, and he answered “God forbid”. In chapter nine and verse fifteen of Romans, Paul told his readers, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” where we read:

For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,

and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

The verse begins, “For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, ...” Paul began with the words, “for he said” which means “because and since God uttered, proclaimed and declared” “to Moses” whose name means “unto drawing out” and was “the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. He wrote the first five books of the Bible, commonly referred to as the Books of Moses”, “I will have mercy” or “God will help, have compassion on, and pity the afflicted, seeking aid or wretched” “on whom” which refers to “toward the people” “I will have mercy” or “God desires to help, have compassion on, and pity the afflicted, seeking aid or wretched”. Paul shared how God decides to whom He will “pity, have compassion on and give aid”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Paul continued with the words, “and I will have compassion” which means “and God will exercise pity” “on whom” or “toward the people” “I will have compassion” which means “God desires to exercise pity”. Paul also shared how God also decides on whom He will “exercise” His “pity”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how God is in control upon whom He has “mercy” and “compassion”. We may think this to be unfair or unjust of God, however, He is God, and He can choose to do as He desires. God has made it clear in His word that He desires to “have mercy and compassion” upon everyone, and He proved it by sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world. No one is exempt from God's offering of His Son, however, should a person choose not to submit their lives to Jesus Christ, Paul's words make it clear that He has full authority to choose not to have “mercy or compassion” upon them. Those who are wise shall align themselves with God's Son Jesus and receive Him as their “Savior and Lord”, and those who are not, have put themselves in the position of “no mercy or compassion”.

Next time we see Paul tell his readers, “it is not of him that wills...nor...runs”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Is There Unrighteousness with God? Romans 9:14

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome concerning Rebecca's sons, “It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”, and in chapter nine and verse fourteen of Romans, Paul asked his readers, “is there unrighteousness with God?” where we read:

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

The verse begins, “What shall we say then?” Paul began with the words, “what shall we say” which means “what can Paul,his companions and his believing readers utter, proclaim, declare or ask” “then” or “therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so”. Paul questioned what he, his companions and his believing readers could ask or proclaim about God choosing Jacob and not choosing Esau.

The verse continues, “Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.” Paul added the words, “is there unrighteousness” which means “does injustice, violation of law and wrongfulness exist” “with God” which means “alongside the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”? “God forbid” or “no, not at all does it appear, come upon the stage, happen or come into existence”. Paul questioned whether God was “unjust” and in “violation of law” to which he quickly answered, “no, in no way and perish the thought”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how he addressed the idea of God being “unjust” because He chose “Jacob” and not “Esau”. God knows everything including those who will and will not follow Him through His Son Jesus. Jesus said, “whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), however, He knows who will “believe” and who will not. If there is question within a person's heart and mind concerning whether they are “chosen” or not, let them receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” today, and all their concerns shall disappear as they become a “child” of the living God.

Next time we see Paul tell his readers, “it is not of him that wills...nor...runs”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.