Scripture:
Romans 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen”
Observation:
Paul has just finished laying out God’s plan of salvation and His sovereignty over it all. Paul wants to make it very clear, both to the Jew (God’s chosen people) and the Gentile, that there was, is and always will be one way to obtain salvation: Grace alone that is given through Christ alone. Paul finishes this beautiful chapter of hope by declaring God’s glory and giving us 3 truths to ponder:
- From Him are all things
- Through Him are all things
- To Him are all things
From: Our sin did not have God pinned up against a wall. The epic salvation story of God redeeming His people was HIS decision. In other words, it came FROM God. If it wasn’t for God’s graceful decision to redeem His people we would all be without hope.
Through: Not only does God create this epic story of saving His people, it is all done THROUGH Him. Even if we came up with the brilliant idea we would still need Christ to do the work! Through, and only through, Jesus do we obtain salvation.
To: God’s plan From Himself and Through Himself is ultimately For Himself. This epic salvation story that we greatly benefit from is to first and foremost put Jesus on display for God’s glory.
Application:
Pause and thank the Lord today that He has, in his grace and sovereignty, decided to graft you into his family through the blood of His son. In this present age we are still living in the reality that all things are from God, through God, and to God. So what? As you go about your day, remember that God is working everything out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purposes! That He has designed for both the good and bad in your life to not only give Himself glory but for our benefit of knowing Him more.
Prayer:
God I admit that I often praise you on the mountain tops and question you in the valleys. I pray that the valleys of this life produce an intimacy with you that my soul longs for. Forgive me for wondering. Thank you for always pursuing me. Thank you for grafting me in to your salvation story. To you, Father, be the glory forever! Amen.