Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

Paul concludes Romans chapter 11 with this: God is not a concept to be mastered but a Person to be worshipped. This is one of the most brilliant articulations of faith and belief in God in all human history. God inspires Paul to tell us who God is, how great He is, and what He does. The apostle reaches a point where he can speak no more, so it’s time to worship.

British theologian G. K. Chesterton said, “The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head, and it’s his head that splits.” The concepts of God, heaven, salvation, and eternity are too big to fit in your head. The key is to get your head into God’s presence, where you can be among His people and sing His praises.

Paul begins this section by adoring God’s knowledge (understanding of all things) and wisdom (practical insight on responding to specific circumstances). We get so enamored studying ourselves sometimes that we don’t stop and wonder, Who is God? God has wisdom so deep we can never get to its end. And yet He gives it lavishly and abundantly through the Holy Spirit. When you are trying to navigate the minefield that is your life, God says, “I know the way. Let me direct your steps. Stay close to Me because I have the wisdom to help you get into the future.” God knows everything, so don’t doubt Him. Trust Him. Agree with Him.

Paul says God’s judgments are “unsearchable” and His ways are “inscrutable” (v. 33). We cannot figure them out. This truth is important because you cannot worship a god you can master. You cannot worship a god you can control. God always makes the right decisions, and no one can judge Him. His ways are beyond our understanding, and we should never be so prideful as to second-guess Him.

Verses 34–35 are straightforward. “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” No one! “Who has been his counselor?” No one! “Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” No one!

Paul has been worshipping the Lord through study, and now he starts worshipping in song and surrender. He did the same thing previously in Romans 8:38–39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In Romans 11:36, Paul declares that all things come from God, exist through God, and return to God. “To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Everything from world history to your life is under the rule of God. He has it all figured out. We can trust Him to do what is best, even when we cannot understand what He is doing. While we wait to see His plan unfold, the best thing today is to worship Him, enjoy Him, and trust Him.

Today’s Reflection

How can you worship, enjoy, and trust God in your everyday life while you wait to see how He works things out?