God Is…I Am... Devotional (100 Days to A Renewed Mind) TBN - Days 89 & 90 - Apr 24 & Apr 25 2019

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

God Is…I Am… Devotional

Day 89 – 4/24/19: RENEWING TRUTH:
God Loves Israel

RENEWING SCRIPTURE:

“At the same time,” says the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” Thus says the LORD: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness-Israel, when I went to give him rest.” The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love…”       

JEREMIAH 31:1-3, NKJV

RENEWING THOUGHT:

God loves Israel. To this day, His love for Israel remains. Israel is special to God. He chose Israel to receive the covenants, the Law, the temple worship, the promises, the patriarchs of the faith, and even the physical blood line to birth the Savior of the world.

The Bible is full of reference to God’s love for Israel. In Jeremiah 31 God declared that only if the sun, moon, and stars vanish will Israel cease to be a nation before Him. In Exodus 4, God proclaims Israel as His son, His firstborn. In Deuteronomy 7, God calls Israel His chosen, holy people; a treasured possession.

God uses the language of betrothal when talking about Israel. In Isaiah 54, He refers to Israel as His “bride.” He says He Himself is her Maker and Husband. God loves Israel as a husband loves his bride.
Yes, throughout the Bible, God refers to His covenantal love for Israel, His promise to preserve the nation, and His longing for her to be restored to Him. They are the “apple of His eye.” To this day, God blesses those who bless Israel.

RENEWING INSPIRATION:

…once your eyes are opened to God’s deep love and concern for Israel, you will see it throughout Scripture and understand how closely it is tied to what God is doing in the world.
                                                                                                      -Robert Morris

God Is…I Am… Devotional

Day 90 – 4/25/19: RENEWING TRUTH:
I Am Grafted Into Israel

RENEWING SCRIPTURE:

But if some of the branches were broken off and you---being a wild olive---were grafted in among them and became a partaker of the root of the olive tree with its richness, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, it is not you who support the root but the root supports you.      

ROMANS 11:17-18, TLV

RENEWING THOUGHT:

God made a covenant with Israel that dates back to Abraham. It is called the Abrahamic Covenant. God renewed the covenant with Abraham’s son, Isaac, and again with Isaac’s son, Jacob. God then renamed Jacob to Israel and promised He would always be the God of Israel. Throughout history, satan has tried to destroy Israel many times. However, God has kept His covenant to preserve Israel. She exists a modern nation today, proving that God’s covenant is irrevocable, and His Word is true.

The old covenant was based on law. God promised a new covenant based on grace. Jesus fulfilled the old and established a new covenant with His death and resurrection. When anyone believes in Jesus, they are grafted into Israel (see Romans 11:11-31). That’s right! As a Believer, you have been grafted into Israel. You have become an heir of the blessings of faithful Abraham (see Galatians 3:14).

The original branches of Israel and the grafted-in branches of the Church share in God’s blessing together. By faith in Jesus you are adopted into the family of God and eligible for all the spiritual blessings and benefits that comes with it. You are now grafted in!

RENEWING INSPIRATION:

The promise of eternal forgiveness was first made to the Children of Israel. Gentiles, then, when they accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, are “grafted in” to the promises God made to the Jewish People. They are adopted into God’s family and may partake of the promises the Prophet Jeremiah first delivered to the Israelites.
                                                                                                                    -Jonathan Bernis

Click here for PDF version of Days 89 & 90 - Apr 24 & 25 2019

Click here for PDF version of Days 81 to 90

Click here for PDF version of Days 1 to 80

God's Servant,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks