One of the great privileges, the highpoints on my ministry has been the pleasure of encounters with those when they first encounter the Lord. When they respond to His gracious invitation and He lifts the burdens of failure. When the reality of judgment for their rebellion is not lost but they realize that it was taken on by Another, by the Lord who came to seek and save that which is separated from God.
This privilege is not exclusive to ministry; rather it is the desire of God for all who follow Him…that the lost be saved when His people rehearse the gospel time and time again. As much as I love to share Jesus’ story and love seeing people respond to it, at times the passion wanes. Maybe it is that family member or co-worker who has heard the story a hundred times; or, maybe it is that terribly inconvenient circumstance where sharing the gospel is costly.
There are times when I have to repent before the Lord and seek His help to stir up the passion. A passion that is exhibited by the Apostle Paul.
1I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4who 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, 5whose 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, NASB95
Paul’s passion was for the Israelites to be saved. Remember now, Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. Christ set him apart primarily to the nations. [As an aside, I still smile a bit when I remember that Paul had stellar credentials in Judaism and God sent him to the Gentiles, while Peter had limited training in Judaism and God sent him to focus primarily on Jacob’s descendants. I digress.]
Notice Paul’s heart, particularly in verse three where he calls the Holy Spirit to bear witness to the truthfulness of his statement: He would wish himself accursed (i.e. to give up his salvation) if that somehow would lead to the salvation of the Jews. Let that sink in for a moment and reflect on it. Have you ever loved someone so much that you’d wish your life for theirs? Perhaps a family member. Maybe a confidante or a good man. But Paul states this about a people group…the Jewish people…those whose leaders not only rejected Jesus but sought to destroy His followers.
Perhaps, you, like me, need to ask the Lord in faith today to strengthen your passion for your people, your neighbors, and your nation in the same way. Make this the year when you build a bridge left and right of your home and across the street… a bridge for the gospel…whatever the cost.
Make it so Lord! Amen.
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