OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
JANUARY 13, 2023
READ: Romans 9:1–5
MEMORY VERSE
“I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for [my people’s] sake.” Romans 9:3
BACKGROUND
“Men have been found to resist the most powerful monarchs and to refuse to bow down before them,” observed philosopher and author Hannah Arendt (1906–75).
She added, “But few indeed have been found to resist the crowd, to stand up alone before misguided masses, to face their implacable frenzy without weapons.” As a Jew, Arendt witnessed this firsthand in her native Germany.
There’s something terrifying about being rejected by the group.
The apostle Paul experienced such rejection. Trained as a Pharisee and rabbi, his life was turned upside down when he encountered the resurrected Jesus.
Paul had been traveling to Damascus to persecute those who believed in Christ (Acts 9). After his conversion, the apostle found himself rejected by his own people.
In his letter we know as 2 Corinthians, Paul reviewed some of the troubles he faced at their hands, among them “beatings” and “imprisonments” (6:5).
Rather than responding to such rejection with anger or bitterness, Paul longed for them to come to know Jesus too. He wrote, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people” (Romans 9:2–3).
As God has welcomed us into His family, may He also enable us to invite even our adversaries into relationship with Him.
By: Bill Crowder
INSIGHT
The opening verses of Romans 9 remind us that Paul wasn’t setting out to write a theological treatise (although Romans is widely considered his greatest work theologically). But it’s difficult to miss his passion concerning his fellow Jews and their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
So deep was his distress (“great sorrow and unceasing anguish,” v. 2) that he declared himself willing to be “cursed and cut off from Christ” (v. 3).
The Greek word anathema, translated “cursed” or more literally “accursed” (nkjv), refers to something that’s laid up or dedicated as an offering, a sacrifice.
Being “cursed” would mean being cut off and separated from Jesus. Paul’s deep desire for his countrymen to share in the salvation brought through Christ led him to wish that he, like Jesus, could be made an offering for the sake of his people.
By: J.R. Hudberg
APPLICATION
How have you responded when you experienced exclusion? What makes rejection so hard?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[a] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 nlt
He who lives for the crowd will die with the crowd pr
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“There’s something terrifying about being rejected by (the) group.”
PRAYER
“Loving God, help me to point others to You and a place in Your kingdom despite personal hurt or disappointment.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“STAND UP STAND UP FOR JESUS”
Stand up, stand up for Jesus
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army He shall lead
Till ev’ry foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day.
Ye that are men now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger
And strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next, the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory
Shall reign eternally.
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE DAILY N 2023
GENESIS 31-33
MATTHEW 9:18-38