Hosea 13 – 14, Romans 9: 1-21, Psalm 109: 21-31
Romans 9: 1-3 (ESV)
“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my
conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and
unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and
cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the
flesh.”
Verses 1 through 3 from Romans 9 show that even though Paul
primarily preached to the Gentiles, he was still concerned about his fellow Jews.
Paul felt such anguish that his people were not saved by faith in Christ, that
he was willing to cut himself off from Christ if his fellow Jews could be saved
by Christ. Paul’s words remind us how much like Jesus he was. Paul wanted the Jews
saved, even though they often caused trouble for him in his mission work. Paul’s
love towards those who hated is an example to anyone who wants to be more like
Jesus. Can we love as Paul did, the people who cause us the most problems in
our life? Can we pray for their salvation and be willing to be cut off from Christ,
so our enemies might be saved? Paul’s words reminds us that he not only
preached the words of Christ, but he was willing to “walk the talk” and behave like
Christ towards his enemies.
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