This morning, I was reading Romans 11, and I was reminded of my grandmother. I praise God quite often for the godly impact that she had on my life (though probably not nearly enough). I have learned so much of the Bible because of her - whether through Bible club, Sunday School and youth group OR by the hours and hours she spent reading verses to me repeatedly to help me memorize them for Bible quizzing (hundreds if not thousands of verses). Today, however, I was reminded of a verse that I learned from her in none of the aforementioned ways, and quite honestly, it may have been the first verse that I ever learned from her:
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable are his ways!" Romans 11:33
This is the profound doxology into which Paul bursts after spending 11 chapters expounding on the wonders of the gospel: that we all are sinners who have fallen desperately short of the glory of God, but that God has provided a means for our receiving righteousness through the willing sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ - that our sins may be forgiven through faith in Christ alone thus restoring us to a right relationship with the Father, escaping his rightly deserved wrath. Wonder of wonders, what God has done to redeem his people! That is what so bowls Paul over that he pens the words of 11:33.
How did Gram teach me this verse? Quite simply, there was no other verse that I heard her quote more frequently in her prayers. May my prayer life similarly be marked by an awestruck wonder and praise of our great Savior God!
