Caffeinated Crunchy Christian Moms

Read: Romans 9-10

In these chapters, we see Paul’s deep heart for Israel. He grieves for his people and is deeply troubled by the fact that many Israelites are rejecting God and Jesus. Paul loves them so much that he wants to do whatever he can to help them be saved. His compassion is so strong that he even says he would be willing to suffer himself for their sake if it meant they could know Christ (Romans 9:3).

Read more in depth here: Enduring Word Bible Commentary Romans Chapter 9

This reminds me a lot of motherhood. As a parent, I do everything that I can to share God’s goodness and truth with my children. I teach them, pray over them, pray with them, take them to church, and model my faith for them. Ultimately though, they will make their own decisions as they grow. Still, Scripture gives us encouragement:

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” –Proverbs 22:6

Our role as parents, and just as people, is faithfulness. We plant seeds and trust God with the outcome.

Romans 10 shifts the focus to salvation itself. This chapter talks about how salvation is received and how it is shared:

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved … ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” –Romans 10:10–13

Salvation is not hidden or exclusive; it is available to all who believe and call on the Lord. This is part of why sharing the gospel matters so much. You should want those around you, and even complete strangers, to know about the goodness of God and the salvation waiting for them.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” –Romans 10:15

There is often discussion around Romans 9 regarding predestination or preselection; that is, the idea that God has already decided who will be saved and who will not, and that human choice does not matter. Personally, I don’t believe that interpretation aligns with the full message of Scripture.

God absolutely knows us before we are born. He created our inmost being (Psalm 139:13) and has plans and purposes for His people. He sets paths before us and desires to use us for His glory. Unfortunately, though, we also live in a fallen and sinful world, and we are given free will. We can ultimately choose obedience or rebellion.

I believe that some things, especially parts of our testimony, may be unavoidable. God will accomplish His purposes, even if it takes a roundabout way to get there. But Scripture also shows us that God consistently calls people to repentance. He wanted hearts to change in Noah’s day, in Sodom and Gomorrah, and among the nations Israel encountered. When people repeatedly rejected Him, judgment followed.

God is patient and merciful, but He does not take persistent disobedience lightly. He nudges hearts, extends grace, and calls people back, yet He does not force obedience.

To wrap up, Romans 9–10 reminds us of three things:

1. God’s deep love for His people,
2. our responsibility to share the good news,
3. and the call to trust Him with the results.

Discussion Questions

1. What encouragement does it give you to know that God works all things, even detours and mistakes, for His purposes?
2. How do you balance trusting God with your children’s salvation while still being intentional about teaching them His truth?

A Note from the Author