Our Daily Bread 13 January 2023 ODB Devotional – The Crowd

Our Daily Bread 13 January 2023 ODB Devotional Message for Friday

Read Our Daily Bread 13 January 2023 ODB Devotional Message

READ FRIDAY ODB DEVOTIONAL, OUR DAILY BREAD 13TH JANUARY 2023 WRITTEN BY BILL CROWDER (OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES)

TOPIC: The Crowd

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38

KEY VERSE: For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race – Romans 9:3

SCRIPTURE: Romans 9:1-5

Our Daily Bread 13 January 2023 ODB Devotional INSIGHT

The opening verses of Romans 9 remind us that Paul wasn’t setting out to write a theological treatise (although Romans is widely considered his greatest work theologically). But it’s difficult to miss his passion concerning his fellow Jews and their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. So deep was his distress (“great sorrow and unceasing anguish,” v. 2) that he declared himself willing to be “cursed and cut off from Christ” (v. 3). The Greek word anathema, translated “cursed” or more literally “accursed” (nkjv), refers to something that’s laid up or dedicated as an offering, a sacrifice. Being “cursed” would mean being cut off and separated from Jesus. Paul’s deep desire for his countrymen to share in the salvation brought through Christ led him to wish that he, like Jesus, could be made an offering for the sake of his people.

Our Daily Bread 13 January 2023 ODB Devotional MESSAGE

“Men have been found to resist the most powerful monarchs and to refuse to bow down before them,” observed philosopher and author Hannah Arendt (1906–75). She added, “[B]ut few indeed have been found to resist the crowd, to stand up alone before misguided masses, to face their implacable frenzy without weapons.” As a Jew, Arendt witnessed this firsthand in her native Germany. There’s something terrifying about being rejected by the group.

READ: Scripture Union Daily Guide 13th January 2023 – Speaking Out, And How To Do It

The apostle Paul experienced such rejection. Trained as a Pharisee and rabbi, his life was turned upside down when he encountered the resurrected Jesus. Paul had been traveling to Damascus to persecute those who believed in Christ (Acts 9). After his conversion, the apostle found himself rejected by his own people. In his letter we know as 2 Corinthians, Paul reviewed some of the troubles he faced at their hands, among them “beatings” and “imprisonments” (6:5).

Rather than responding to such rejection with anger or bitterness, Paul longed for them to come to know Jesus too. He wrote, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people” (Romans 9:2–3).

As God has welcomed us into His family, may He also enable us to invite even our adversaries into relationship with Him.

REFLECT AND PRAY
How have you responded when you experienced exclusion? What makes rejection so hard?

Loving God, help me to point others to You and a place in Your kingdom despite personal hurt or disappointment.

Our Daily Bread Devotional 13th January 2023 || ODB for Friday Message . Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.