Paul Grieves for His People

The Apostle Paul , in his letter to the church at Rome (and to us): 

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.  (Romans 9:1-5, NASB)

Paul is grieved at the idea that his people, the Israelites, have not recognized the Messiah, Who is Christ our Lord.  It’s Jesus Who fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament, and Paul is sorrowful that they didn’t see just Who He was.  Indeed, Jerusalem was destroyed, and God’s Temple razed, because of their disbelief.  Paul wishes that he could take their places in hell because of their unbelief. 

Paul says that his people had all the advantages of the knowledge of God:  “The adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.”  But they failed to recognize their Messiah, Whom God had promised to them, His Chosen People. 

We, as followers of Jesus, should follow Paul’s example, and be grieved at all of the lost people in the world.  God desires for ALL people to be saved although it’s not His mandate.  We should want what God desires.  Whether Jew or Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, we should do everything in our power to bring the Gospel of Jesus and the Love of Christ to them.  Jesus is Hope! 

SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM! (PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM!)

Worship:  “The Watchman,” by Paul Wilbur