I could wish that I myself were accursed….
I’ve read of Paul, the apostle’s zeal for evangelism many times before, but never has it struck me as it did at a funeral the other day. I was at the viewing, had done my best to minister to the family, and I had some time before I was to perform the funeral service. I was feeling the responsibility to truly care for this family in providing comfort in Christ, yet nearly all I spoke to were distressed and seemingly unconnected to Christ.
Sitting in the funeral parlor, I began contemplating Paul’s words written in Romans 9. Did he really say what I recall him saying -- that he would rather himself be cut off from Christ if that would cause his unbelieving kinsman to come to Christ?? Was he truly willing to be eternally separated from the God He loved and the gospel He celebrated and proclaimed if that would mean his fellow countrymen would gain Christ?
Indeed, he did say that. In fact, he begins by saying, “I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 9:1). In other words, this was not overstatement… this was not an over-the-top sermon illustration… this was not a ploy to shock people into giving him an ear. He really meant it.
He then goes on to state that he was experiencing increasing anguish and great sorrow over this (9:2). His heart ached and ached for his unbelieving, Hell-bound, fellow Jews who were blindly living in unbelief. And this swells to a crescendo as he states, “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” (9:3).
This is a clear manifestation of the second part of the great commandment – to love our neighbor as ourselves. Talk about self-denial for the sake of others!! That is a true love only wrought by God’s grace.
After the funeral, I was convicted about this. Did I honestly have the zeal of Paul for those people gathered in that funeral home? Does my heart ache for my unbelieving friends and neighbors? Do I have an increasing burden and anguish for my lost loved ones? Do I really… I mean really love my neighbors as myself?
May God do a work of grace in my heart. And my hope is that I will then be freed to pray earnestly, speak boldly, love unconditionally, and sacrificially give myself for there eternal joy.
Sitting in the funeral parlor, I began contemplating Paul’s words written in Romans 9. Did he really say what I recall him saying -- that he would rather himself be cut off from Christ if that would cause his unbelieving kinsman to come to Christ?? Was he truly willing to be eternally separated from the God He loved and the gospel He celebrated and proclaimed if that would mean his fellow countrymen would gain Christ?
Indeed, he did say that. In fact, he begins by saying, “I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 9:1). In other words, this was not overstatement… this was not an over-the-top sermon illustration… this was not a ploy to shock people into giving him an ear. He really meant it.
He then goes on to state that he was experiencing increasing anguish and great sorrow over this (9:2). His heart ached and ached for his unbelieving, Hell-bound, fellow Jews who were blindly living in unbelief. And this swells to a crescendo as he states, “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” (9:3).
This is a clear manifestation of the second part of the great commandment – to love our neighbor as ourselves. Talk about self-denial for the sake of others!! That is a true love only wrought by God’s grace.
After the funeral, I was convicted about this. Did I honestly have the zeal of Paul for those people gathered in that funeral home? Does my heart ache for my unbelieving friends and neighbors? Do I have an increasing burden and anguish for my lost loved ones? Do I really… I mean really love my neighbors as myself?
May God do a work of grace in my heart. And my hope is that I will then be freed to pray earnestly, speak boldly, love unconditionally, and sacrificially give myself for there eternal joy.
posted by David at 1:40 PM
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