OF HIM, THROUGH HIM, TO HIM (Romans 11:36a)

Today’s Reading: Romans 11

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

In St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, this statue is probably the world’s most famous religious sculpture. Michelangelo carved it when he was 24 years old, and it is the only one he ever signed. He called it “Pieta” (meaning “pity”). The beauty of its lines and expression leaves a lasting impression on everyone, as it portrays Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus after he was taken down from the Cross.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

We might want to read the key verse at least twice more, stopping and meditating on the words, “depth,” “riches,” “wisdom,” “knowledge,” “unsearchable,” “judgments,” and “His ways.” There are many ways to describe God, but let us think of just three of them. (1) omnipresence, (2) omnipotence, and (3) omniscience. These are fairly common words amongst believers, but we may need a reminder: (1) being present at all times. (2) all powerful. (3) all knowing and all wise. (1) He is everywhere and sees everything, and we have a very limited perspective. (2) He creates and sustains everything, and we are weak in every sense. (3) He knows all, and we know very little. Colossians 1:9-18 is an excellent expansion of these thoughts. We should not judge ourselves too harshly if we do not understand some things we read in Scripture. We simply need to rely on our ever-present, all-powerful and all-knowing God to teach us the things we need to know.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray with King David, “Teach me Your way, O Lord…” (Psalm 27:11). As Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice,” and I’m doing my best to listen to Your thoughts. I’m a slow learner, but I believe I am learning. I ask for more of Your presence, more of Your power, and more of Your wisdom, at least as much as You know I can handle. Thank You, Lord. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When Norma-Jean and I went to plant a congregation in Canada’s atomic energy centre (Chalk River – Deep River, Ontario), one of the first things I did was to buy an old school bus to pick up children for Sunday School. On one side I painted, “Teach me Your way, O Lord,” and on the other, “Study to show yourself approved unto God.” I had taught public school in Chalk River seven years earlier, and I learned some valuable lessons. For example, I met almost daily for several months at 7 a.m. with a boy who some would say was a slow learner. I knew that was not true. He was very intelligent, but totally distracted from his studies by other things. With the school inspector’s permission, this boy gained two whole years’ worth of lessons in six months, and as a result he caught up with his age group. I’ve been easily distracted throughout my life, but God has given me “special ed.” It happens early in the morning and has become a pattern in my life for decades now. This blog is part of the personal tutoring God gives me. Another area of learning for me has been interviewing about 14,000 people for TV. I’ve learned so very much. Below is a link to one of those interviews with a former criminal and maximum security prisoner, Ernie Hollands. God was so pleased that He moved my friend, Stan Watrich, to translate that interview into Russian and distribute it in the prisons in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Ernie and I have the Russian language recorded over our English words. How amazing is that! Click here for part of the interview (the English version), and here for the Russian Version (the actual interview begins about 3 minutes in). Talk about God giving special attention. WOW!!!!!

Yours for experiencing God’s special attention,

David