Passage Read: Romans 10-11
Meditation Verse: 11:32
Thought
God has hardened all men, handing them all over in bondage to disobedience, so that He may display His mercy to all men. All have been given over to disobedience, so I should not be surprised that anyone walks in disobedience to God! They know nothing else and can do nothing else! God's intent is that all men are offered mercy, and those whom He chooses are granted mercy. We offer all men mercy by revealing God's Gospel to them, God's offer of peace, a cessation of war, a surrendering to God and being granted forgiveness of sins and welcome as a new citizen into His kingdom. All men need to receive this offer of amnesty, but not all will accept it. This is the expression of God's mercy: an offer of peace and welcome for all who surrender to God's Son.
Application
All men are sinners, so I shouldn't be surprised by their sin! Rather I should recognize that they need mercy just as surely as I did. Because if they don't continue in their disobedience, they too will be saved. But they need to hear that, they need to know that, and that is the commission given to all who have accepted God's offer of amnesty. I can't look on sinners and turn away from them in their disobedience, but rather I should be moved with compassion and mercy to offer them the hope and promise of the Gospel, that perhaps they might be saved from their disobedience and brought into God's glorious kingdom.