“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people.” Romans 9:2
This passage starts off with Paul’s intense concern and love for his people. You find his willingness to be cursed and cut off for the sake of the ones that are lost. When we picture the lost, we picture those who don’t attend church. The lost go further than outside the church, there may be some in the church. Often times we feel that just because we serve on the Sunday School board, lead a life group, or clean the church, that one earns one’s way into Heaven. This chapter reveals that salvation is initiated by God, not by man. One’s leadership in church doesn’t earn one’s salvation; it’s only based on God’s grace and faith in Jesus. Righteousness and salvation that Jesus brings can’t be attained through good works. Salvation always begins in God’s sovereign, gracious, and eternal will.
There are two things to take from this chapter. First, we must ask God to give us a heart like His that we may be like Paul and have a burden for those who are lost. Lastly, pray that God will reveal our motives so that we are not doing things to earn our way. Our purpose as disciples should be to model Christ to those who are lost.
Pastor Anedra