“Do Not Be Ignorant Of This Mystery…!”

“Do Not Be Ignorant Of This Mystery…!”
One of the prayer points in the book of divine service of my church is a prayer for the conversion of the Jews. One of my Old Testament teachers asked the question, “Who are we Gentiles to pray for the conversion of the Jews?” We are what is called, “Beg and brag!”
If Jesus Christ has become the Saviour of the world we must not forget too soon that he came within the context of Judaism and as a fulfilment of a promise to the patriarchs.
Jesus began his ministry as a reformer of the faith of the fathers. The early Christians were worshipping in the temple in Jerusalem until pride set in and they became arrogant. That is when they were chased out of the temple. Even from foreign lands they continued to pray facing Jerusalem.
In their message in Pisidian Antioch Paul and Barnabas told the jealous Jews, “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles”(Rom.13:46).
Issues of faith is a mystery and whoever is ignorant of this mystery may become conceited.
This is written for us and to us Gentiles: “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved…”
Unbelievers are potential believers whom present believers must treat with love with the aim of winning them to Christ. The Jews in particular “…are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
Even you too, when you sing, “I shall become what God said I will be,” you are in effect saying that God’s gifts to you are irrevocable.
We are not going to be saved without others. The disobedient backsliders “have become disobedient in order that they too may receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.” This is in the same way that we who were once disobedient received God’s mercy.
“…God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all”(Rom.11:25-32).
My friend, if you are an adopted child in the palace, note that no matter how dearly the king loves you, the free-born prince, even if he is stubborn remains a prince, but you are not! When we know this mystery we cannot be conceited. *While you rejoice that you are under grace because of God’s mercy, learn to be tolerant of those who are under disgrace. God will have mercy on them too and they too will swim in grace. So be humble.
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ thank you because through your gospel the Father has shown mercy to me. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!