Daily Devotional Thoughtful Thursday | September 3, 2026
It’s Thursday and time for your daily devotional. In Romans 9, Paul pours out his heart for his fellow Israelites, desiring that they be saved. Have you ever wanted someone you love to come to know Christ? Then you know how Paul felt. In today’s daily devotional, chapters 10 and 11 teach you to put your faith in God, who loves both Jews and Gentiles.
The Law of Righteousness
In Romans 9, Paul expresses sorrow for his brethren who don’t know Christ. Israel had been blessed with God’s glory, the covenants, the law, temple service, and God’s promises. Also, they’re descendants of the patriarchs. But even though they carried the earthly legacy, they weren’t saved because of it.
He says Isaac was the seed of promise; after him was Jacob. In verse 8, the children of the promise, not the flesh, are counted for the seed. In verse 24, God also calls the Gentiles. For Israel followed the law, which is by works, but the Gentiles followed the law of righteousness. In your daily devotional, you live by the law of righteousness, which is by faith.
God Accepts Your Faith
Paul acknowledges Israel’s zeal for God in Romans 10, but it’s “not according to knowledge.” Attempting to establish their own righteousness, they haven’t submitted to God’s. In verse 12, Paul declares, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for God hears all who call upon him.” Verse 13 affirms that whoever calls upon the Lord will be saved.
This is great news if you’re non-Jewish. You don’t have the lineage, but God accepts your faith. And faith comes by hearing God’s Word. In this daily devotional, Israel heard God’s Word but didn’t exercise faith. But you’re saved because you received the Word by faith.
The Gift of God’s Grace
In Romans 11, although Israel didn’t receive the promises by faith, God didn’t cut them off. God would never cast away His people, for He always has a remnant. When Isaiah was in dire straits because he thought he was the last of God’s prophets, God assured him that He had 7000 other prophets who served Him faithfully.
Paul exclaims that at that present time God’s faithful remnant was experiencing His grace. You can’t earn grace, and it doesn’t require a certain genealogy. In your daily devotional, thank God for His free gift and receive it by faith.
You’re in God’s Family
In verse 11, Paul warns against Gentile’s boasting that they’ve obtained the salvation Israel lost. In verse 15, he says if Israel’s “casting away” brought reconciliation to the Gentiles, imagine what their comeback will be. Verse 16 declares, “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.” In other words, don’t count Israel out; they come from good stock.
Paul gives the example of a wild olive tree losing some of its branches, but wild olive branches are grafted in. If wild branches can be grafted in, how much easier will it be to graft in natural branches? In this daily devotional, rejoice that you’re in the family and pray for others to return.
Your Faith Will Spark a Great Return
In Thursday’s daily devotional, God has graciously made a way for the Gentiles that will spark Israel’s return, so there’ll be a full house of faith-filled believers. By showing you mercy, God extends mercy to them as well. In today’s daily devotional, God has so wisely worked it all out that both Jews and Gentiles receive salvation by faith.
