ROMANS 9:26

“‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, “YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,” THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.’”

When my mom and dad were alive, my relationship with them was very different than it is now. My mom has been with Jesus for over 15 years now and my dad just over 10. Hard to believe. I am still their son, but they are my late parents. They are no longer alive in this world. Our view of being alive differs greatly from God’s view. Let’s see what Paul says today about this.

Paul quotes again from Hosea 1:10. You have to remember that Israel’s great sin was forfeiting their worship of the living God for dead idols. They forsook their birthright as His children and pursued other gods who did not exist and had no power. They had witnessed firsthand His mighty acts on behalf of their nation, but that did not matter. The term “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” fits them perfectly. Why did Paul quote from Hosea here?

APPLICATION

Because just as God restored a fallen Israel, He has restored a fallen mankind through His Son Jesus. We just have to turn to Him, believe in Him and follow. Then we too have that relationship as children of the Living God. John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,…” It really is that simple. Why can’t we believe that?

When Paul and Barnabas said these words to the people in Lystra, they were urging them to turn to the living God. “‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,’” (Acts 14:15) Aren’t we doing the same today? Aren’t we urging those chasing manmade idols like money, power and success to do the same? They need the living God!

Psalm 42:2 cries out with the same desire. “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 84:2 speaks the same. “My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Is this your desire? Do you long to be in the presence of the living God? Well, you can. Every day! Just lean into Him. He is there, waiting for you. He was and is and will always be!

I am so thankful I serve a living God Who reigns eternally.

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