In our last visit we considered the Apostle’s passion for his brothers, described in Romans 9:1-4. He said he was willing to forfeit his own relationship with Christ, if that would make it possible for the Israelites to be saved. That wasn’t possible according to Romans 8.
In Romans10:1 he shares what he could do: “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” His passion led him to prayer. This word for prayer means begging for or desperately wanting a need to be met.
Paul couldn’t sacrifice what he had so others might be saved, but he could pray for them to be saved. He wanted them to know, what he could do he was doing. Ask yourself, “Am I doing all I can to help people who are lost become saved?”
Paul’s prayer to be effectual required his faith and the Israelites’ faith. Chapter 9 concludes: “They pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the ‘stumbling stone.’ As it is written: ‘See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’”
Paul prayed for the people of Israel’s salvation. Why? Because, in his understanding of the historical perspective of God’s redemption in Romans 9-11, he sees that God isn’t through with them yet. He had hope they eventually would believe.
Learn from Paul’s passion, prayer and perspective that there is hope for those you care about as well.
