Do We Really Want the Lost to Be Saved?
Do We Really Want the Lost to Be Saved?
Thinking about Romans 10:1.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)
In Romans 10, Paul continues his thought from the end of Romans 9, emphasizing that the Jewish people did not find what they were looking for.
Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that it was his earnest desire and prayer to God that his fellow countrymen - the Israelites, the Jews - might be saved. It would be his great pleasure to see his brethren according to the flesh become his brethren in Christ Jesus.
Paul Really Desired Their Salvation.
Paul demonstrated this desire in his life. He took the gospel to the Jews, even when they rejected the message and tried to kill him.
Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren…And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there…Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:1-2, 5-7, 19-22)
Paul didn’t just merely HOPE they would be saved. He didn’t just pray they would be saved. He put forth great effort to teach them the gospel that could save their souls - even risking his life in the process.
So Romans 10:1 are no mere empty words for Paul - he nearly died several times because of his great desire for his fellow countrymen to be saved.
What About Us?
Do we really want our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and fellow countrymen to be saved?
We say yes, but do our prayers reflect this desire? Do our actions reflect this desire? Do we make financial sacrifices because of this desire?
The “Great Commission” is the Lord’s marching orders for all His followers.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
James reminded Christians that “faith without works” is dead (James 2:14-26). We say we want the lost to be saved - we might even pray for such to happen.
But what are we doing? And if the answer is silence, do we really desire the lost to be saved?
Christians, it’s high time we start doing what we can do, where we are, to reach the lost around us.
Not everyone can travel the world like Paul - but we all can reach people who are lost right where we are with the opportunities God has given us.
