“Glorify God For His Mercy!”

“Glorify God For His Mercy!”(Rom.15:8-13).
God’s redemptive plan for all humanity was already made known in the last of the sevenfold promise which he made to Abram. “…all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”(Gen.12:1-3). Unfortunately, with the passage of time the Jews developed a concept of exclusivity – the we and them syndrome! Even if Israel was the favoured of God, it was on the understanding that the world is a basket and Israel was the handles of the basket. To lift a basket – with or without content – one holds it by the handle.
That is why Africa as part of the Gentile world played a very significant role in the story of salvation, beginning from when Abraham first came to Egypt during a famine (Gen.12:8-13:2), and the time when Jacob and his family came to Egypt(Gen.46:1ff)where he and his generations after him where given the best land and his son became prime minister.
The peak is when Africa played host and saved the life of our Lord Jesus Christ from the hands of Herod. Had Joseph not fled to Egypt with the baby Jesus, there would have been a different twist to the salvation story.
This proves how far the Jews didn’t have to exhibit a certain high degree of religious exclusivism! This very important role which Africa played in salvation history makes Christianity an African religion. It is not a whiteman’s religion or foreign religion as some Africans vociferate. “Christ belongs to everybody who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that he is the Son of God!”
The Lord Jesus Christ himself considered that, Jews first, then Gentiles later when he told the Syrophoenician woman, “First let the children eat all they want for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” Gentiles are not dogs. Dogs here is a metaphor referring to Gentiles. The woman felt that if the dogs have to wait till the children are full there may be nothing left for the dogs. So she told Jesus, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” As a result of her faith, Jesus granted her that which she had asked of him(Mk.7:24-30).
By faith all who call on the name of the Lord and believe in him will be saved. “…Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob “so that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy…”
Bottom line dear friend: *There is no “we and them!” When Christ becomes your servant, it is intended to bring the others in, in fulfilment of his universal plan of salvation, even as he promised Abraham *”…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”*
The sevenfold promise also include, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” Since we may not know who our Abraham may be, “we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, not please himself. For even Christ did not please himself…”(Rom.15:1-3).
Prayer: Father we glorify you for your mercy. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.