Day 6: Romans 9:1-8

Unbreakable love

In Paul's unbreakable love for the people of Israel, there was "great sorrow" and "unceasing anguish" (Rom. 9:1-2).  The reason for this was Israel's unbelief.  Paul's "great sorrow" and "unceasing anguish" stemmed from the fact that his kinsmen according to the flesh, the Israelites (v. 3), sought to attain righteousness not by faith but by works (v. 11).  Paul was particularly distressed to see a privileged nation like the Israelites, who had the privilege of knowing and believing in God (vv. 4-5), not availing themselves of that privilege.

Yet, amidst witnessing the disobedience of the Israelites, and feeling the urgency and agony for the salvation of their souls, there was something that comforted his heart.  It was the word of the unbreakable covenant of God (v. 6).  The promise in that word was, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" (v. 7).  The core of this promise was God's sovereign choice.  Even if Paul himself were accursed and cut off from Christ, he fervently desired that his brethren, the people of Israel, would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe in Jesus for eternal life (v. 3).

Do you have such earnestness, especially for the salvation of souls among your family and relatives who do not believe in Jesus?  Are you willing, even if it meant not entering heaven and going to hell in their place, to fervently desire and pray for their salvation?