30 August 2025
“But I ask, did they not hear? Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. But I ask, did Israel not understand? First, Moses said, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding. And Isaiah says boldly, I was found by those who were not looking for me; I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me. But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.”
Mark drew attention to Paul’s questions: “Did they not hear? Did they not understand? The answer is yes, they heard, and yes, they understood. But still they rejected.” Israel’s problem was not ignorance but unbelief. They knew the message. They refused to bow.
God’s grace, however, reached beyond Israel. Mark said, “Those who were not looking for God found Him. Those who were not asking for Him received revelation. The Gentiles believed, while Israel remained stubborn.” The irony is striking. Outsiders entered by faith, while insiders stumbled in unbelief.
Yet even in rejection, God’s posture is tender. Mark reminded us, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people. God’s patience is astonishing. His mercy is extended, even to those who resist Him.” Hearing is not the same as believing. Knowing about the gospel is not the same as trusting Christ.
This presses a question into our lives. You have heard the gospel many times. You know the message. But do you believe, today? Mark warned, “Faith is not a past decision that fades into memory. Faith is present trust. The question is not only, Did you believe once, but are you believing now?”
Bring this home to your family. Ask your children what it means to believe in Jesus, not just hear about Him in church. Listen carefully to their answers. Help them see that faith is more than knowledge. It is trust in a living Saviour.
Question: You have heard the gospel. But have you believed—and are you still believing today?
Prayer:
Lord, guard me from hearing without believing. Keep my faith alive and present. Help me to trust Christ today, not only yesterday. Amen.
This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.