Do we have free will?

What do you think about Romans 9:18? "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."
As I read this verse, I wondered how free will could come into play when God can harden whomever he wants, or have mercy on whomever he wants.  It doesn't seem like a situation where we could ever choose to follow God.  But Jesus himself said "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44).  However, perhaps God is calling all of us to him, drawing all of us to him, and not all of us are responding.  This would make sense because, as 2 Peter 3:9 states, God "is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Does Romans 9:18 then mean that God hardens those who have already decided to ignore him?  In what other way could God harden someone and still allow them to have made a choice?

The wonder of it all

Job
I found some really neat stuff in a number of passages today.  For instance, the end of Job 26.  I love reading passages that describe the work of God in nature.

"He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. . . . By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent.  And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!  Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”

How faint the whisper we hear of God.  We can look around and see evidence of his handiwork, and we are in awe and wonder.  How much more so when we see him face to face!

Hosea/Revelation

Hosea 6:6 - "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."  Hosea is painting a picture of unrepentant Israel throughout his book.  This verse seems to hit at the heart of his message.  Israel is sinful, yet still trying to put on a pious face by going through the motions.  That's similar to the church of Ephesus that we read about in Revelation.  The Ephesians had done all the right stuff, but had forgotten their first love, their passion for God.

Let's not miss the point or take the letter of the law over the spirit of it.  God made us for relationship, not for rules.  Let's be relational!

Mercy, not vengeance

Key verses

Hebrews 12:28-29 - Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Proverbs
29:15 and 17 - Too many people leave their kids to their own devices or expect video games and tv to educate them.  Let's get back to family time and actually imparting personal/social skills and moral values to our kids so that our society doesn't continue to spiral out of control!

IsaiahThe Lord states in Isaiah 59:21 that the words he will impart to his people will not depart from their mouths, or from the mouths of their children forever.  I thought this was kind of strange, because it seemed like that meant that God's word would remain silent forever.  However, depart here doesn't seem to mean that they will not speak, but rather that God's word will always remain with them and when they do speak, it will be God speaking through them.  We have a promise from God, then, that his Spirit will be in us and his words will always be in our mouths, ready to be proclaimed to whomever we meet, forever.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (60:1) Out of the online commentaries I have looked at, only one suggests in passing that this salvation may be from Babylonian rule, but even that theologian concludes, with the others, that this passage is referring to Christ coming to save his people.  Just as in Isaiah 9, where the people walking in darkness saw a great light, Isaiah 60 proclaims the coming salvation and great light of Christ.

Luke
I wonder what it was about the breaking of the bread that made these two men on the road to Emmaus realize that it was Jesus with whom they were talking?

Hebrews
Abel's blood cried out for vengeance against Cain.  Jesus' blood cries out to God for mercy so that we don't have to die.  Let us try to mirror that approach, and extend mercy and grace to our neighbours today, rather than vengeance and annoyance.