“With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ! – if that would save them.”
– Romans 9:1-3
Being a zealous Pharisee in his former life, Paul could totally relate to his unbelieving fellow Jews in a way that very few others could. It broke his heart that so many of them were continuing to oppose the Gospel message of salvation that he himself had come to know personally. Paul was so grieved by their denial that he was willing to sacrifice everything – even being forever cursed without Christ himself – in return for their acceptance of Christ and coming to salvation.
As we interact with unbelieving family, friends, and coworkers each day, does their opposition to the Gospel grieve us in the way it grieved Paul? When we spend time with them, do we completely ignore the fact that they desperately need Christ and are doomed without him? Or do we listen and anticipate those occasional moments when we get the opportunity to share with them the reason for the hope that we have?
Dear friends, where would we be today had no one grieved for us and taken a few moments to share with us the reason for the wonderful hope that they had come to know?
The apostle Peter reminds us this: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)
Paul wasn’t afraid of rejection. He witnessed to his people out of a love for Christ, but also out of love for them. It bothered him greatly that they didn’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
As it relates to your people, how much does that bother you?
Former Blackout Artist 