Romans 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Aren’t these Bible verses so precious for us Christians to read? When we look at the Apostle Paul’s attitude toward the Jews, we can see a very passionate man who has a love for his people. For Paul, Christ was His all in all. Yet, he goes on to proclaim for his people’s sake, he is willing to go to the extent of being cut off from Christ. Being cut off from Christ is impossible, however, Paul is showing his commitment and love to do anything and everything possible to see his people being saved.
In our walk of faith, this is an important life posture we too want to possess and develop more and more. How often do we grow cold or indifferent especially toward our own people and their salvation? It’s a big problem if we are only obsessed with our own kind, however, it is equally a problem if we grow distant from our own kind because we are so focused on saving others.
The words of the Apostle give us a very balanced and fresh perspective on how we should go about our walk of faith. We must always first and foremost give up our all to follow Christ. However, once we do so, we don’t grow cold to our loved ones but our love towards them only grows more and more. As our love toward Christ grows more and more as we let go of our idols, our loves should go great toward saving others and also our own kinds no matter how much they won’t understand us.
May all of us begin the new month of love with this same passion of the Apostle in our hearts. Just as he loved his own people and sought to share the Gospel with them with all means, let us too go forward by sharing the precious Good News to all those around us and especially to our loved ones who do not know yet our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.