Twelve

Day 12

When I was little, I was always confused why God had a Chosen People: the Israelites.  Did He not love everyone the same? Why does the Bible single them as His special children?

I don't really know all, or even most, of the answers.  But I do know that God is good. And Great.  And that this weeks devos answered some of what I used to wonder.

First, the Old Testament

• Isaiah 56: 6 "I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do no desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my commandments." (NLT)

Then the New Testament

• Acts 15:8-9 8 God knows the people's hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles [non-Jews] by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. (NLT with added explanation)
• Acts 15:11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. (NLT)

The Lord never intended to not save the Gentiles, to not love them.  He's called all of us.  Even in the old testament, throughout the prophets, he extends His grace to the "not chosen" people.  In the New Testament Paul argues the Gentiles case.  God has chosen us to be His people.
1 Peter 2:8-9  ⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, 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. ¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (NLT)

We're His!