Romans 9:6-13 (NRSV)
True descendants of Abraham
It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, and not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. For this is what the promise said, "About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son." Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose of election might continue, not by works but by his call) she was told, "The elder shall serve the younger." As it is written,
"I have loved Jacob,
but I have hated Esau."
It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, and not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. For this is what the promise said, "About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son." Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose of election might continue, not by works but by his call) she was told, "The elder shall serve the younger." As it is written,
"I have loved Jacob,
but I have hated Esau."
Reflection
You can pick your friends but you can't pick your relatives. Well...maybe not all the time. God can call his relatives and God can pick his friends too. In God's promise to the children of God, we discover that to be a child of God is much more than just to be a relative. We are children of God by call.
At baptism, God claims us as his children. Promises are made to bring that child up and give that child the tools to make a decision on their own with God. As the child (and child doesn't mean by age), they are given the Word, taught the Ten Commandments, their eyes are opened to the creeds, and to the means of a relationship with Jesus through the sacraments, prayer and many other ways. This is a child of God by call. God has called this child to be his own. A child that can choose to become a disciple of Christ or deny and turn and run. A child of God by call.
The Word of God has not failed. The promise is not broken but is fulfilled. A real claim is made to the children of the flesh and the promise. It is faith not heritage that determines the heritage to God. God is free to select and develop and give the grace God gives to all people through the loving act of Jesus Christ in his life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and gift of eternal life.
God chooses you! What a wonderful gift of life! God chooses us and through faith and trust in God we grow in the Word and live to follow Jesus. Thanks be to God! I am a child of God! Not by chance but by the purpose of God's action in Christ. Wow!
Prayer
I love being adopted! I love the fact that you came for me and for everyone near me. Open the eyes of all that they may see you and give you glory and follow you and grow in faith...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen
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