By flesh or promise?

Reading: Jeremiah 34, 37-38 and Romans 9

Scripture: Romans 9:8, This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

Thoughts: Most of the world is not descendants of Abraham or Issac. Paul is making the case that through Christ we are adopted into the family of God that has the covenant with Him, but also that some were born into the family who have rejected Christ and are the branches being pruned that the grafted in branches may bear fruit. In the previous verse, he said we are named for Israel. Originally Jacob (deceiver), Israel had his identity changed when he had an encounter with God. This is telling me that we are not just our parents' children, or what our name is. When you look at a group of people who all have the same name there are almost always similarities in who they are. In the western world most do not name their children thinking about the meaning but in other parts of the world, the meaning of names is important. Jacob being the “deceiver” or king Jabez being “will cause pain” these a just a couple of examples. My name means “God will increase,” When we encounter God are we going to be grafted in or pruned away? And are we living up to or down to the names our parents gave us? With that in mind, what is the name that God has given you, is he confirming what your parents gave you, or does he have a new one for you?

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you knew us before we were in our mother's womb. You know the hairs on our head and the trials we are walking through. I thank you that you know me and for calling me friend and adopted son. I thank you for my name that I know and if there is any other make it known to me. I thank you that you are with me and for leading and guiding me. I continue to seek your wisdom that I may steward those things you have placed in my life. I thank you that you have grafted me in, that I may I bear fruit. Help me so that when life squeezes me that you are what comes out and not my anger.