The Lord is executing His Word on the earth as we love with Jesus.

Romans 9:27-28 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” For us to understand this verse and draw encouragement, we need to remember something Paul wrote in Romans 9:6 “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.” From that verse to these verses, Paul had been showing his readers that God’s promises of salvation were for those to whom He chose to show His mercy from both Jews and Gentiles. The Israel of God, the redeemed children of God, the beloved of God, did not include everyone who was descended from Abraham. In this verse, Paul cited Isaiah’s prophetic declaration that God has chosen only a remnant from Abraham’s descendants to be saved. Yes, God may bless the nation of Israel with many offspring—as many as the sand of the sea, figuratively speaking—but not all national Israelites are included in the redeemed Israel of God. Paul reemphasized that God’s word has not failed toward Israel when he quoted Isaiah’s word to Israel, “the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” Everyone who has experienced the grace of God in Christ, who is not of Jewish descent, should rejoice in God’s mercy and love demonstrated to them. And even more to the point of this verse, every descendant of Abraham who has experienced the grace of God in Christ should also rejoice in God’s mercy and love demonstrated to them—they have been chosen by God as members of the remnant of Israel to be saved. Here’s our encouragement to live to love with Jesus today from this verse. The Lord’s word will not fail and is not failing. He is executing His word in the world, even as I speak and you listen. He is saving all Israel as His beloved, filled with the life and the love of His Son, love and testify of the power of the gospel. That’s what we were saved to do. May we be filled with the Spirit and empowered by the presence of Christ to advance the fulfillment of God’s word for His glory. May we be filled with great joy for the privilege we have received to be expressions of the love of God today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com