Image from agnusday.org
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:1-5)
It was after a funeral when my daughter Nellie and I were walking out of the back door of the church and across the alley towards our home. She asked, "Daddy, do you ever do a funeral where you know the person went to the other place?" I said quietly, "No, because I leave that to God; some people do not make it to heaven, but only God knows who those are. My job is to try to convince people to accept and serve Jesus so that they do make it to heaven." It was a sad moment for me. And as we read the above passage, Paul also went through some sad moments when he reflected on those who had not yet heard and who had refused to hear the Good News about Jesus Christ; the ones for whom all things "belonged." He was referring to the Jews; Paul's "own people," his "kindred according to the flesh," to whom belonged "the adoption (the rightful people for whom God was Father if they would but ask), the glory (all that God had done in their history and was doing through Christ was theirs), the covenants (the holy contracts, sacred covenants between God and them), the giving of the Law (all for their sake to find their path back to God), the worship, and the promises (Read the Old Testament to see all that they were promised)." And their also were the forerunners of faith, from whom Jesus had come, as Messiah, the anointed one sent to deliver Israel from their sin." And in return, God heard, "No thanks." Literally, no thanks given.
We all know or have, loved ones we want reached for the kingdom of God, but for some reason or another they never accept and they continue to wander lost in the things of the world. We want to scream, "All this could be yours if you would but believe!" But we don't give up. We plant seeds praying God's work will bring out a bud of life and hope, and the day when full-blown believers are ours. We never give up.
PRAYER: Loving God, here I share with You the names of loved ones for whom I pray salvation would come: _________________________. May Your will be done. Empower and use me to reach them in whatever way would bring faith to them. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Write out that list and pray for it each morning.
Eradio Valverde
