Psalm 18:49
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.
Romans 15:5-11
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[a] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
Devotion
In Romans 15:5, Paul focuses on the importance of unity in the church. He knew that if believers were not united in their faith and the declaration of the Gospel, then this new movement would not survive the light of day. There needed to be a consensus on the major doctrines of the faith while they agreed to disagree, in love, on non-essential items. Paul then goes on to point out how Jesus became a servant on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises to the Jewish patriarchs, so that the Gentiles might praise and glorify God for His mercy. So, we can clearly see that, from the beginning, God’s redemptive work in and for Israel had in view the salvation of the Gentiles.
Paul concludes this passage by quoting from several passages from the Old Testament. In Psalm 18:49, David vows to praise God among the nations. It is clear that Israel’s salvation was to benefit the rest of the world as God’s message of hope was declared by Israel to the entire world. In these passages, the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) are invited to join Israel in praise to God. Just as Israel had reason to praise God, the Gentiles would see God’s mighty acts and experience His incredible mercy because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Therefore, both Jew and Gentile have reason to praise God. “God’s greatest and climactic act for Israel’s salvation was to send the Messiah to fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs and so to gather in the great harvest of the Gentiles.” Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Questions to Ponder:
Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, God’s mercy and forgiveness are available to you. All you must do is cry out to God in faith and receive His mercy and forgiveness. Have you cried out to God and acknowledged your sinful and rebellious heart? Have you trusted in the person and work of Christ? Have you received God’s mercy and forgiveness at the foot of the cross? Are you praising God for His love, power, and willingness to save?
Prayer Points
- Thank God for your own salvation. Pray for your “top 3 people” that today they would accept Jesus as LORD and Savior.
- Pray for all those who are searching and seeking to know Him. Pray that today would be the day of their salvation where they put their trust in Jesus Christ. Pray that they confess they are sinners and need a Savior. Pray that they would invite Jesus to be on the throne of their heart. Pray that they would receive His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness. Praise God for new brothers and sisters in the faith!
Suggested Prayer
Father, You are wonderful beyond all comprehension. You are all together lovely. You are so marvelous, and You watch over Your word to perform it. You are love, unity, peace and joy. You are incredibly kind and funny. Thank You for Your creativity. Thank You for Your forgiveness, grace and faithfulness. Thank You for loving me just as I am and loving me just because I am Yours. I pour out all my affections upon You for there is no one like You. You alone are worthy. You alone deserve the praise and glory. From the ends of the earth from the depths of the sea, I exalt You, my king and God. Mark me, change me from the inside out, shape me and mold me so that I look more like Jesus every day. I ask this for myself and Your church in the name above all other names, Jesus Christ. Amen.