May 29 - Whosoever Will

 Read today’s texts first: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 God chose to invite all of us into His family
but we must choose to accept His invitation. 

Now that I’m serving as a chaplain for seniors, I finally get to sing the hymns again. One came to mind when I was reading in Romans today. The composer is the prolific hymn writer, P. P. Bliss (I used to laugh at his name as a kid in church), and he clearly had chapter 10 in mind:

Whosoever heareth, shout, shout the sound!
Spread the blessed tidings all the world around;
Spread the joyful news wherever man is found:
“Whosoever will may come.”

“Whosoever will, whosoever will,”
Send the proclamation over vale and hill;
’Tis a loving Father calls the wand’rer home:
“Whosoever will may come.”

This is why context is so important and why I recommend reading the whole Bible throughout the year. After reading chapter 9, it’s easy to see why reformers believe God determines who will be saved and who will not. But they miss the point of what Paul was saying. Many of the Jews in Paul’s day believed they were the only chosen people, the elect, but God can choose to include whoever He wants, just as he did Jacob over the rightful heir, Esau. In this chapter we read, “anyone who believes” (10:11), “all who call on him” (10:12), “everyone who calls” (10:13 – “whosoever will” in KJV). 

God chose to invite all of us but we must choose to accept His invitation. That’s why the Spirit of God inspired Paul to make this plea: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach , except they be sent? (10:14,15). Another choice is involved - will we go and invite “whosoever will” to come to Jesus?

“Lord, thank You for the opportunity to offer the hope of eternal life to those who have only a short time left to make that choice!”