Are You Heartbroken Over Those Who Reject Christ?
How we should feel about the lost.
Paul said he had “great sorrow and continual grief” in his heart for his fellow Israelites - many former friends and family - who rejected Jesus Christ (Romans 9:1-5).
The apostle Paul was brokenhearted when the people he loved rejected God’s own Son.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s power for salvation to “everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16-17). Paul knew there is salvation in no one other than Jesus (Acts 4:12).
To reject Jesus is to reject the only way of salvation - the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
How do you feel?
Do you look at the world around you and think, “Wow, they’re bad. I can’t believe they would continue to live such a sinful life. Thank God I’m not like them.”
Jesus condemned this kind of thinking.
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14)
Instead, do you see sin, and it causes you to mourn?
Do you feel brokenhearted over your own sinful past?
Do you feel deep sorrow for those living in sin?
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
In this Beatitude, Jesus is speaking of those who are brokenhearted by sin - their own and the sin around them in the world.
Do you want them to be saved? Paul did.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)
It can be so easy to “get used” to sin around us in this world - but we should never get used to it.
Sin should always break our hearts. Those who reject Jesus should cause us deep sorrow.
Our sorrow for them should motivate us to share the “good news” with them - there is a way out, and it’s through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-7)!