No Wonder the Praise!

Scripture:
Romans 11:33-36 — “Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Observation:
In chapters 9-11, Paul has just completed his journey into one of the deepest, most challenging truths of God’s Word – God’s sovereign choosing of Israel and His later work of grafting in the Gentiles into His gracious salvation. My thoughts are that when he comes to the last paragraph of chapter 11, it is as though he is taking a break and transitioning to his next thoughts and away from the mentally and emotionally challenging journey. But before he gets to his next thought, he pauses and reflects back on from where he has come. And when he does, a thunderous burst of praise fills his heart and explodes from his lips. “How can I keep silent,” he marvels, “when all I have, all I am, and all I have to give is His!”

Application:
How in the world can I keep silent when I realize the incredible investment God has made in me? V.36 teaches me three truths: Everything I have (health, family, material possessions, eternal life, talents, gifts, abilities, food and water, even the air I breathe) is from Him. I have nothing that God hasn’t first given to me. Everything I do (serve, think, live, play, walk, talk, breathe, sleep, drive) I could never do without God graciously and powerfully working through me. Everything I have to give (time, money, praise, songs, myself) is to Him. In light of these wonderful truths, I should live my life in the conscious awareness that all 86,400 seconds of every day are His for me to live, play, work, and serve for His glory. When my life and this awesome truth connect, the result will be the most glorious praise to the God who is my all in all!

Prayer:
Wow! God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You! Help me not to forget this moment that I have shared with You. Right now, I am so consciously aware of Your presence that my heart is filled with praise to You. Please help me to stay in this consciousness all day today. When I leave this time of fellowship with You, help me to keep my mind focused on You. Help me not to lose sight of You when my life and the events of today collide. I want to live every second of this day as a gift from You, through Your power, and ultimately as my gift to You! To You be the glory forever. Amen.

— Jeff Holland, congregational care pastor, Reservoir campus