Shadows on the Street
Good Friday Morning Joes and Janes;
In the Bitterroot it is overcast and rainy. The cat wanted out but not for long! Clouds are cloaking the very top of the Bitterroot Mountains as I look out the window this morning and fresh snow looks to have fallen down to about 5000 feet overnight.
This morning I was reading in Romans chapter 9. The Apostle Paul is writing this.
Romans 9:1-5
1 I speak the truth in Christ–I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit– 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
In this chapter Paul talks about God’s Sovereign choices over who is saved, but in the first 5 verses we get a very personal view of Paul and his concern for the Jewish people. Paul, as well as the other disciples and Christ were all Jews. It is the Jews who also condemned and had Jesus crucified. Many if not most of them rejected Jesus as the Messiah.
Paul makes the statement in verse 2; “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” Why does he have this sorrow and anguish? I bet it is because all of these Jews are going around trying to persecute and kill him! I am sure that he is feeling persecuted by those who killed Christ and are now trying to do the same to any of Christ’s followers. After all once the Jews killed Christ the Messiah they no longer are God’s chosen people right? NO!
Though many who teach Replacement Theology would like you to believe that; it is not true. Paul is anguished that so many Jews, who according to verse 4, are the recipients of all of the Old Testament covenants and promises choose to reject them. He wishes that he could give up his own salvation, be cut off from Christ eternally to save those who are lost.
He is in sorrow because he sees that the Jews received so much knowledge about God; the Law, all of the temple worship, (an aspect of God lived in the Holy of Holies in the Temple), all of the patriarchs that God provided to lead the people. God chose the Jewish people to provide the lineage of which Christ was born into the world and yet so many rejected all of this.
It deeply distressed Paul to the point that he was willing, if it was possible, to give up his salvation for the rest of the unbelieving Jews. He was certainly willing to die for them.
That made me think about how I feel for the lost around me. Every day I see people around me who I have no idea whether they will be spending eternity in heaven. At least in America, if not Europe, we have been blessed with much freedom and God revealing Himself to us. Most homes in America have several Bibles in them even if they are never opened and gather dust on the shelf. Most people have access to hundreds of TV channels with at least a handful of them teaching Gods word even if people chose not to stop there in their channel surfing.
We still at this point have the freedom to tell anyone we meet on the street about Christ without fear of being arrested or harmed. So Americans today are a lot like the Jews of Paul’s day. Many people don’t want to hear about God and Jesus Christ. A lot of people claim to be religious or even believe in God, but show no outward signs of having a personal relationship with Christ. Where do they really stand spiritually?
There is the quote from quite a few years ago that says: “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” A few times over the years I have gotten into conversations with people I have worked with and started to share about Christ and they have replied; “Oh, I am already a Christian!” Boy, I wouldn’t have known it by their language, actions or any other outward signs working around them! Now maybe they were or maybe they were just telling me that because they wanted to end the conversation, I don’t know. But, if they were saved they certainly didn’t have the heart of Paul for people around them.
But then that is a really big question; do I have the heart of Paul for people I work and walk past every day? Do you? Every day we meet people that are rushing headlong to eternity an in hell. In fact more and more these days I run into people who are openly antagonistic to anything about God and anyone that carries the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Am I willing to still give the message of Christ to these people? Are you?
Just something to ponder as you go into the world today.
Regular Joe
Posted on April 20, 2012, in DAILY DEVOTIONAL and tagged Apostle Paul, burden for the lost, cup of joe, Daily Devotional, Men's Daily Devotional, Old Testament, Religion and Spirituality. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
Great thoughts! I can understand as a parent how Paul felt. You spend most of your child’s early years instilling their lives with knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Bible, and then when they get older and move out on their own, it is often hard for us to see them go against that knowledge or act like it doesn’t matter. I’ve had to learn to pray for them, and leave them in God’s hands to guide them back to the right path. Thanks for sharing your message on this!
Amen to that! I have had similar experiences with my boys. Thanks also for the nomination for the Versatile Blogger Award! God Bless you.
You are welcome, and God bless you too!
Amen to that! I have had similar experiences with my boys. Thanks also for the nomination for the Versatile Blogger Award! God Bless you.
I thank God for Paul and his ministry. If it weren’t for him being sent to the gentiles, with Gods love letter John 3 : 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I most likely would not have had a chance to hear the gospel of Christ and the saving power of Jesus (Gods own Son).
America in its foundation was formed as a Christian nation, where God was sovereign and the majority of the people were taught from the pulpit to fear God and to fear Hell (yes, there is a Hell written about in the Bible). And the only way to escape the eternal separation from God and the flames of Hell, is the saving grace offered by Jesus the Christ. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
America has become more gentile than Christian for the most part they don’t even know who God is let alone, he will soon be their judge for the sin in their lives. Hebrews 9: 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The majority of the people claiming to be Christians have confused Christianity with Religion and missed the mark by 18 inches. The 18 inches being the distance between the brain and the heart. They have read the scriptures and practice Religion thinking they are headed to Heaven, with the head knowledge of the scriptures. Matthew 7: 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus wants a personal relationship believing in your heart and doesn’t want us ashamed of this relationship Romans 10: 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2 Timothy 2: 15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Mark 8: 38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
As far as America is concerned, I believe our only hope is written in Gods word. In 2 Chronicles 7: 14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. If my people , which are called by my name …. This does not refer to the people in America in general it refers to the body of Christ. Romans 12: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Another scripture that describes a Christian walk and the body of Christ is Ephesians 4: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. So for America’s sake and if you want this land to be healed and return to God as described in 2 Chronicles 7:14. We as Christians need to fall on our faces before a fearful God and ask forgiveness for our wick ways. Asking God to intervene in America’s fate and turn the hearts of our leaders.
If you are reading this and don’t know Christ Jesus as your Savior I implore to you study Gods word, find someone to help you understand it and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today!! There is always room for another Christian in the body of Christ.
Well it is hard to believe I’ve rambled on this long. I will close with one more thought. Be come something big government is fearful of. An unashamed Christian in the full armor of God: Ephesians 6: 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;, if we are going to protect the saints in body we need to unify in thought, know your Bible, know your weapon and how to use both, love God, and love your enemy.
If you need me give me a call. A brother in Christ,
Al Hendrickson