The Gifts And The Call Of God Are Irrevocable (Romans 11:29)

“God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.” (Romans 11:32)

If you’ve ever hoped for something with all your heart, then you can understand how Paul felt when he was writing his letter to the Romans. He longed for his fellow Jews to accept Jesus as their Messiah. He even stated his hope that the mercy God has shown the Gentiles—the mercy of their own conversions to Christ—will prompt more Jews to embrace Jesus as well. All have been disobedient, Paul says: first the Gentiles by not believing in the one true God; then the Jewish people for not believing in God’s Son, Jesus. And so all now stand in need of God’s mercy.

What was true back then is just as true today. No matter where we find ourselves in life—no matter what stage our faith is at, no matter if we are in comfortable or dire circumstances— we all stand in need of God’s mercy.

Understanding this truth can be life-changing. Imagine how liberating it is to know that we don’t have to be perfect! All our efforts to win other people’s approval, all our attempts at convincing ourselves that we are “good enough”—they can never match the glory of knowing that Almighty God has chosen us, called us, cleansed us, and empowered us to live as a new creation. Yes, we are sinners. Yes, we are disobedient. But we have a Father in heaven who accepts us as we are and who is constantly pouring his grace upon us, transforming our hearts and reforming our minds. This is the mercy of God—a mercy that never fails!

Today in prayer, ask your heavenly Father to open your eyes to his mercy and love. Let yourself stand in awe of every gift God has ever given you. It’s true that you can never repay God for all that he has done for you. But that’s okay, because he’s not asking you to pay him back. All he wants is for you to turn to him with love and gratitude, and to share the good news of his mercy with everyone you can.


“Father, I want to join my prayer with that of St. Catherine of Siena, who once cried out: ‘Oh, Divine Mercy! … On every side to which I turn my thought, I find nothing but mercy!’ ”