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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for June 2026
July 1, 2026
Romans 8:31 – What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Thought: When we become Christians, we are not exempt from struggles, hardships, and persecution. In fact, Christians often suffer more because the world hates them and harshly opposes them. Even so, God is on our side. God fights on our behalf. God protects us against the adversary. God delivers us from evil. God brings the resources of heaven for us to use. Yes, God is for us. And, as Paul inquires: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Isaiah 54:17
July 2, 2026
Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also give us all things?
Thought: We might have a tendency to believe that God will not always assist us and help us in time of need and affliction. This type of thinking is easily combatted by the fact “that God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.” He gave His only begotten, sinless Son to die for our sins. If God was willing to do this on our behalf, “how shall he not with him also give us all things.” God’s actions at Calvary prove He will continue to act for us.
Matthew 7:11
July 3, 2026
Romans 8:33 - Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Thought: The world hates Jesus, the truth, and the church for which He died. Those in the world bring many charges against God’s elect. Their false charges, however, mean nothing in the divine court of law. There, a just God sits upon the throne of judgment. He knows all the facts. He is aware of the sacrifice of His Son on Calvary. When God’s elect stands before Him, they have nothing to fear. They will be acquitted. It is their God who justifies.
Isaiah 50:8-9
July 4, 2026
Romans 8:34 – Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Thought: Paul asks: “Who is he that condemneth?” Is it the evil one? Is it the wicked of the world? These matter not. There is only one who died and rose again for our transgressions, that is, Jesus Christ. And, presently, He it at the right hand of God and makes intercession for God’s elect. He boldly informs the Judge that the debt for our sins has been paid. They were paid by the blood of Jesus shed on Calvary. God’s elect are not guilty. They are just.
1 John 2:1-2
July 5, 2026
Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecutions, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Thought: In our relationship with Jesus Christ, there are two ways we could be separated from the love of Christ. He could withdraw His love from us, but this will never happen. We could withdraw ourselves from His love. Many things could cause one to do this. Paul lists seven things: tribulation, distress, persecutions, famine, nakedness, peril, and the sword. Suffering hardships for Christ is challenging. We need to rise and meet the challenge.
Job 13:15
July 6, 2026
Romans 8:36, 37 – As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Thought: Paul quotes Psalm 44:22. The situation that existed at the time the psalmist wrote was still true when Paul penned Romans. The people of God are hated by the world. They world often leads them like sheep to the slaughter. However, God’s children do not lose. Instead, they are more than conquerors through him that loved them. Those who live through tribulation have their resolve strengthened. Those who die inherit an eternal home.
Revelation 21:7
July 7, 2026
Romans 8:38, 39 – For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
Thought: The love God has for us as His people cannot be removed from us. Paul lists ten things that cannot separate us from the love of God. He concluded his list with these words, ‘nor any other creature.” In essence, nothing can separate the love of God from us. When we are struggling in life, this is a wonderful promise to keep close to our hearts. The evil powers of the world will try to convince us God no longer loves us. No so! His love endures forever.
John 10:28-29
July 8, 2026
Romans 9:1, 2 – I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Thought: Paul is entering into a discussion about the Jews. Paul was a Jew who loved and deeply cared for his people. He wanted his readers to understand that the things he was about to say were the truth. Notice he affirms this in two ways: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not.” He also called his conscience and the Holy Ghost as witnesses. He affirms how he honestly felt about his people. “I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”
Luke 19:41-44
July 9, 2026
Romans 9:3 – For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh.
Thought: In the previous verse, Paul called attention to the fact that he had heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for the Jews. Here, he uses hyperbole to express his concern for Israel. To be accursed from Christ is the worst thing that can happen to an individual. Paul said he would do this if it would bring about the salvation of his “kinsmen, according to the flesh.” Paul would not literally desire this, but it expresses his love for the Jews.
Exodus 32:32
July 10, 2026
Romans 9:4 – Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.
Thought: Paul has expressed his concern for the Jewish nation. Remember, his care for them runs deep because he was a Jew himself. He describes them with five points in this verse. They had been adopted by God as His children. Because of their relationship with Jehovah, they attained great glory. God had made His covenants with them. He had given them the law and the service to the temple. In addition, He gave them wonderful promises.
Exodus 19:3-6
July 11, 2026
Romans 9:5 – Whose are the fathers, and of whom concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Thought: Israel had an illustrious line of men who formed their history. “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the twelve patriarchs, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, etc., etc., without controversy, the greatest and most eminent men that ever flourished under heaven” (Clarke, e-sword). Too, the Lord Jesus Christ sprang from the Jews. He was a son of David and a son of Abraham. Paul describes Him as one “who is over all” and whom God blessed forever.
Matthew 1:1
July 12, 2026
Romans 9:6 – Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.
Thought: The Jews were not receptive to Jesus and His gospel. Instead, they were trying to establish their own righteousness by keeping the law. Paul wanted his readers to know that their rejection of the Word did not mean that the Word of God had been ineffective. He then makes an interesting statement. “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Paul introduces us to a new concept, spiritual Israel. Jews and Gentiles can be part of this Israel.
Galatians 3:29
July 13, 2026
Romans 9:7, 8 – Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Thought: Paul continues to elaborate on the new Israel of God. Being part of the new Israel has nothing to do with one’s being of the fleshly lineage of Abraham. Paul’s writes: “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God.” Today, all men, both Jews and Gentiles can be part of the new Israel. Abraham’s faith in God’s promise regarding all men being blessed through Isaac, is the type of faith that makes on part of the new Israel.
Genesis 17:19
July 14, 2026
Romans 9:10 – And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac.
Thought: In the previous verses, Paul was using Abraham as an example. He now turns to Isaac and Rebecca for another illustration of the point he is making regarding the Jews. It is interesting how the Old and New Testaments are so intertwined. The things that transpired in the lives of many Old Testament characters were pictures of things to come. Those men and women who lived them probably did not know this, but God, the architect, was at work.
Genesis 25:21
July 15, 2026
Romans 9:11 – (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Thought: When Rebecca conceived, two children were in her womb. It had been told Isaac that in his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed. The question that came to the forefront was: “Which one of these children would be the seed through whom the Messiah would come?” God chose Jacob. He did this before the children were born. He did it before either could do good or evil. The election stood “not of works, but of him that calleth.”
Genesis 25:22-23
July 16, 2026
Romans 9:12, 13 – It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Thought: When God brought His plan of salvation through Christ to fruition, He had to make choices. He made these choices before the individuals who would fulfill them were born. Such was the case with God’s choice of Jacob, the twin brother of Esau. Sometimes God’s choices went against the traditions and the norms of the day. Again, this was true in his choice of Jacob. God’s choice was essential. Jesus could have only one lineage.
Genesis 25:22-23
July 17, 2026
Romans 9:14 – What shall I say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Thought: Because God made choices about various individuals throughout history in order to bring His plan of redemption to pass, there are some who might cry that God is unrighteous. Thus, Paul asks: “Is there unrighteousness with God?” He also answers the question with a firm: “God forbid.” Choices had to be made. God could make those choices perfectly. He is sovereign, sinless, and all-wise. He would never manifest unrighteousness.
Psalm 145:17
July 18, 2026
Romans 9:15 – For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will shew compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Thought: God is an eternal God. God is the Almighty God. God is the all-wise God. God is the Creator. God is sovereign over all. Because of His position in the Universe, He has every right to make all the calls when it came to how He would carry out His plan to save mankind. In making those calls, however, He could not contradict His divine nature. He was kind and generous, but He had to continue to be just. Too, He could not be a respecter of persons.
Acts 9:13-16
July 19, 2026
Romans 9:16, 17 – So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Thought: When God selected Isaac over Esau, His selection had nothing to do with the character or works of the two children. This is true of all those God chooses to assist in carrying out his plans. Here, a wicked ruler is presented as an example. God selected Pharaoh, not because he was righteous, but because he would further God’s plan. Through Pharaoh, God showed His might and enabled His name to be universally proclaimed.
Exodus 3:18-20
July 20, 2026
Romans 9:18, 19 – Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Thought: Paul has been discussing God’s sovereign right to choose those who were part of his plan of redemption. He used two illustrations in this discussion: Jacob/Esau and pharaoh. His states his premise again in verse 18. “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” This, however, leads to a question about God. “Why doth he yet find fault? For who have resisted his will?” A very good question.
Proverbs 16:4
July 21, 2026
Romans 9:20 – Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Thought: In response to the question in the previous verse, Paul immediately rebukes the one who asks it. “Oh man, who art thou that repliest against God?” Man has a tendency to attempt to lift himself to the level of God. He believes he has a right to question God’s actions. When he does, he forgets who he is. He is one formed by God. And, “shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus?” The answer is, “No.”
Genesis 2:7
July 22, 2026
Romans 9:21 – Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to man one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Thought: Paul illustrates God’s sovereignty using the illustration of a potter. He asks: “Hath not the potter power over the clay?” The answer to the question is simple, all would universally agree to the answer. Yes, the potter has power over the clay. In like manner, God has absolute power over His creation. Man, however, has a problem understanding this. Since men are not inanimate clay, they believe God can’t treat them as clay. Not so.
Jeremiah 18:1-6
July 23, 2026
Romans 9:23, 24 – What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.
Thought: These two verses present Paul’s readers with two interesting concepts. First, he inquires about God’s longsuffering manifested toward “the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.” If they were predestined to destruction with no option out of destruction, why would God suffer long with them? Second, since the vessels of destruction refused to respond to God’s longsuffering, it only emphasizes His glory to “the vessels of mercy.”
Romans 2:4-5
July 24, 2026
Romans 9:25 – Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Thought: Before the foundations of the earth were laid, God made plans for the salvation of man. The view of these plans from forty thousand feet reveal that God had every intention of saving all men. This comprehensive plan was made known to Abraham when God told him that through his seed “all families” of the earth would be blessed. It is interesting that the Jews rejection of Jesus was an element that led to the Gentiles being called.
1 Peter 2:9-10
July 25, 2026
Romans 9:26 – And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Thought: In times past, the Gentiles were considered “strangers.” They were not the people of God. The law of Moses was a covenant made solely with Israel. However, God’s ultimate plan was to save both Jews and Gentiles. Yes, the day was to come when the Gentiles could be called “the children of the living God.” When Paul wrote the Roman epistle, that day had already come. Both Jews and Gentiles could be reconciled to God in the body of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12-19