Mercy

I've been reading in Romans the past two weeks.

(We've been going through it for my Tuesday night Bible study)

As I was reading through Romans 11 tonight, I came across a couple of verses that really hit me hard.

The first are verses 20-21 (for the full context, read Romans 10 and 11. For a quick synopsis, Paul is talking about the way the Israelites kept hardening their hearts towards God and how the Gentiles now have the chance for salvation):

...But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Ouch.

How many times do I take my salvation for granted?

I am not Jewish.
I am not an Israelite, nor one of God's chosen people.
Yet, Christ extended His hand out to me and offered me salvation.

Why do I act like it's something I can just claim or use when I need it...instead of something that should consume my whole life?



Here's the other verse:

For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
(vs. 32)

How many times do I take His mercy for granted?

I sin.
Every.single.day.

I wouldn't have salvation or the promise of eternal life without His mercies.

I'm a screw up.

And yet, many times I think, "Well, at least I'm not doing that...or that...or that..."


Yeah.
Because God measures different sins differently, doesn't He?

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
(James 2:10)

Yeah.
He sure doesn't.

Just some things He's showing me tonight.

What has He been showing you lately?