Remnant: A Daily Verse-by-Verse Devotional

Paul introduces his first example of the point he makes in verse six by citing the case of Ishmael v. Isaac. We dig into that example and how it proves that salvation isn't guaranteed by birth, but through each individual's choice.

Paul tackles an issue with the ethnic Jewish people head on: there were grumblings from ethnic Jewish people that if Jesus was the only way to God, then God's word must have "failed." That's a concept Paul will dig into in coming verses, but we start by making clear that Jesus is the way to God. Period.

Paul continues listing all of the ways that his kinsmen, the Jewish people, have been special to God through generations, as a way of addressing disappointment among those ranks in the church in Rome. We address the heart of that disappointment, and preview the pivot Paul will make tomorrow with the word "But."

Paul continues identifying with the Jewish people, explaining that he knows that the Israelites were and are special to God in ways that Paul lists in verse four. But we talk about how we exist to be a blessing, not to merely be the recipient of blessings.

Paul writes a verse here that we can all identify with: that we would trade places with our loved ones if we could so that they might be rescued from being lost. We talk about what we can do to save the lost, since we cannot trade places with them.

Paul tells the ethnic Jewish members of the church in Rome that he shares in their anguish over their family members who have rejected Christ. We explore the promises of anguish-filled prayers in Pslams.

Paul starts a three-chapter rebuttal to what he surmises as a big objection from the ethnic Jewish members of the church in Rome. We start today by talking about Paul telling the church that he's speaking the truth.

Paul concludes chapter 8 by assuring us that nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus. We sum up where we are in Paul's letter and what Paul's practical wisdom means for us today.

Paul starts a well-known duo of verses by telling the church in Rome that he is sure of something. Tomorrow's verse ends the thought, but today we focus on how Paul, a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, could be sure of his faith.

Paul answers all of the possible feelings we might have towards God that he lists in verses 31-36 with interesting language in 37 that we are more than conquerors. We talk about that unique verse and what it means.

Paul quotes Psalm 44:22 in an effort to show that tribulation, distress, persecution, famine and other disasters aren't a new thing. But he does so to make his point that when we know God is for us, the things of this world cannot stop us.

Paul asks a final question that is the key question he's driving at. Given the love Paul has described in Romans, who are we to at times feel like God's love has left us? We talk about that love.

Paul rephrases his question from verse 33 here in verse 34, but this time answers with four actions Jesus has taken and continue to takes on our behalf. We dig into those four.

Paul asks another question and answer in verse 33, a variant on verse 31's "If God is for us, who can be against us," but this time with a litigious tinge. The answer is that God makes things right. We explore the ways that God makes things right.

Paul writes a critical verse here that if God loves us so much that He gave His only Son for us, He of course will, with Jesus, graciously give us all things. But the "things" he wants to give us aren't always what this world want. We talk about what it means to receive the things God wants to give us, as opposed to what the world wants to give us.

Paul turns to summarize the entire Jesus experience in these next nine verses, starting with the question, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" We talk about how the early church lived like no one was against them, and how today's Americans live anxious of everything.

Paul explains how we are conformed to Jesus's image with a chain in verse 30. We work through every link in that chain and talk about how that should impact our daily lives.

Paul follows the iconic verse 28 with two critical verses that explain the promise of "good" in verse 28. We learn in verse 29 that the "good" is to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Paul further explains how God helps us in our weaknesses with this iconic verse. We dig into the promises of this verse and what it means for those who love God.

Paul follows up verse 26's explanation of how the spirit helps us in our weakness with another way the spirit helps us: by interceding for the saints in God's will. We explain who these saints are that the spirit is interceding for.

While Christians join all of creation in groaning, waiting for the second coming, Paul writes that God Himself is helping us with groans too deep for words. The key example in this verse of how He helps us is in knowing what to pray for.

Paul writes that as we wait for what we cannot see, we wait for it patiently. I talk about how I'm bad at being patient but how the new heaven is worth being patient.

After writing about our eager waiting in verse 23, Paul turns that into hope in verse 24, noting that our hope is special because it is in something not seen. We talk about that basic facet of faith and its importance.

Paul says that it's not just the creation groaning, but us as well. Why are we groaning? Because we've seen what's the come by its firstfruits.

Paul gives us another verse about creation, this time writing that the whole of creation is groaning together for fixing. We talk about what it means to groan.