Christians have received glory from God. They have accepted salvation offered and given freely thanks to the death and resurrection of Christ. They are blessed to the point of our greatest reward is spending eternity with Him in heaven. They are the chosen of God. But who are the chosen?
“4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” – Romans 9:4-5 (ESV)
When I read this passage I am taken aback a bit in that it appears that only the Israelites have been chosen to receive God’s glory. And frankly that is not pleasing to me as I contemplate my life, it would seem to explain things. It is not as if I am winning in life. I feel unappreciated and beat down. I feel as though I am just a cog in the wheel and am expected to do the work for all so that they can relax and bask in the glow of accomplishment. But then I read on in God’s Word.
“6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,…22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—24even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?” – Romans 9:6 & 22-24 (ESV)
Now I see it. I see that God provides His glory for those that choose Him and accept the salvation He gives freely. Just being in the lineage physically does not lend to the glory of God.
“8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” – Romans 9:8 (ESV)
I have chosen God’s glory and therefore can count myself as one of His offspring. Whether or not I am a physical descendant of Israel does not matter. I have chosen salvation from Him and that is what gives me the glory of God. I may be suffering each day here in this world and doing the work of everyone else, or at least feeling that way, but I do not get my appreciation from this world, but from Him. I am to continue doing the work He has given me and I will be rewarded in heaven.
Who have you chosen? Are you living on the idea that your physical gives you glory? What if you were to choose God and accept His glory, where would you be?
Trevor's Thoughts 