Romans 9:1 – With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. (NLT)

Today we get a glimpse into the heart of the Apostle Paul.  We catch of glimpse of the burden that he had for all people, that they would come to have a relationship with God through Jesus.  Remember, Paul was a Jew, and not just any Jew.  Paul was a member of the Pharisees, and had been trained in the best theological schools of his time.  Before he came to know Jesus, he spent a great amount of time persecuting the Jews who believed that Jesus was the Christ.  Yet, even though he came to know Jesus as Christ, Paul was willing to be cut off from Christ so that his Jewish brothers and sisters would be able to share in the saving knowledge of Jesus!  

This causes me to think – what are we willing to sacrifice so that others may know Jesus?  What sacrifices are too much?  Indeed, what sacrifices do we offer up in an effort that others may know?  These are not questions to accuse, but rather questions we should honestly ask ourselves.  If we truly believe that a relationship with Jesus makes a difference, then what are we willing to do for others who don’t know that difference? 

What are we willing to sacrifice in matters of our time?  Personally, I struggle with this question.  I mean, I already work for God!  Sometimes I don’t want to volunteer over and above my ‘church’ time, but I have to separate what I do for work and what I ‘sacrifice’.   When we receive new members into our church, they are asked, “Will you support this church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?”  I believe these are good measures of our willingness to sacrifice so that others may know about Jesus.

Today, let’s take an honest look at what we are – or are not – doing in an effort to share the message of God’s grace through Jesus with others. 

Posted by Ramón Torres