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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
April 11
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Today's Pathway:
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Romans chapters 1-11 contain tremendous amounts of theology, particularly concerning the doctrine of salvation. Having finished this section, Paul concludes with several verses of praise to God. He begins by speaking of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Paul has just concluded teaching some amazing things, particularly as they relate to Israel and the Gentiles. These are things that the mind of men would never have considered, and would never have put together, yet God did so in an incredible fashion. His wisdom and knowledge have a great depth of riches. The word "depth" means exactly what we would think it does. When used in this context it carries the idea of being "profound". God's wisdom is fathomless. Charles Spurgeon spoke of the depths of God's wisdom this way:
"The Lord's plans are as marvelous as His acts; His designs are as profound as His doings are vast. Creation is immeasurable, and the wisdom displayed in it unsearchable."
Both God's wisdom and knowledge are mentioned in this verse. "Knowledge" refers to the comprehension or intellectual grasp of something. God knows everything. He knows what will happen, what could have happened, and what the results would be. Wisdom speaks of the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. Not only does God know, but He always acts correctly based upon His knowledge.
In the second half of verse 33 Paul speaks of God's judgments and ways. God's decisions, and the ways that He does things, are "unsearchable". That word literally means "not searched out" and thus it signifies "that which is impossible to search out or fully understand". I heard a preacher say something like this long ago,
"If sinful humans with their finite minds could understand everything God did, He wouldn't be much of a God."
In verse 34 Paul asks,
"Who hath known the mind of the Lord".
The answer is "No one". Has God ever needed any man's advice on what He should do? Certainly not! In verse 35 Paul asks if there has ever been a time when God was in debt to any man? Once again the answer is an emphatic "No"! Psalm 50:10-12 states,
"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."
God can never be in man's debt because everything in creation already belongs to Him. Sometimes we believers think that God owes us for the service or sacrifices that we have made. He does not! Just as God does not owe anyone salvation based upon what he or she may have done, so He does not owe the believer anything for what he or she may have done after salvation. Everything we have, or will have, is by the grace of God.
Paul concludes with a statement of Who God is. Everything in this universe came into being by Him (John 1:3), everything in this universe is sustained by Him (Hebrews 1:3) and everything in this universe exists for Him (Colossians 1:16). Therefore, He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory (Revelation 7:12). William MacDonald summarized these verses this way:
"Paul has expounded the marvelous plan of salvation by which a just God can save ungodly sinners and still be just in doing so. He has shown how Christ’s work brought more glory to God and more blessing to men than Adam lost through his sin. He has explained how grace produces holy living in a way that law could never do. He has traced the chain of God’s purpose from foreknowledge to eventual glorification. And he has traced the justice and harmony of God’s dealings with Israel and the nations. Now nothing could be more appropriate than to burst forth in a hymn of praise and worship!"
We serve a great God. Let's make sure that we praise Him, thank Him, glorify Him, and honor Him today.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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