Fervent Disciples

Deep Passion 
Read Romans 9 thru 11
 
Romans 9:1-2 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ! – if that would save them. 
 
HOW do we understand Paul’s deep love for the Jews? He is willing to trade heaven for hell if that would save all Jews! How would one love so sacrificially?
   Paul’s deep, deep passion for the unsaved Jews is one of the reasons Paul was able to endure many hardships such as shipwrecks, beatings, jail, deprivation and sickness. Even as his main purpose was to minister to the Gentiles, Paul still strived for the Jews to know Jesus as Lord, Son of God, Redeemer and Messiah. Where was that fervent love born?
   Paul was not alone. Each of Christ’s true apostles developed this passion for the Jews because they walked with Jesus. Jesus showed them how God so loved the world, as he gave himself up to the cross. They watched Jesus forgive the worst of sins and witnessed the demons driven into obscurity. Most of all, they saw Jesus humbly going to the cross to die for their sins.
   And then came the victory! They knew they had not followed an ordinary man when they experienced his resurrection and celebrated his ascension.
   The apostles understood more completely than any of us can how real, true and perfect God’s love is for us. The Savior’s passion became their passion. That’s why Paul and all of them were willing and able to give their lives entirely for the gospel.
   Can we be like this? Everything we do must be based on the strength and intimacy of our relationship with Jesus. We can become very fervent for the lost if we come to know Jesus as personally as the apostles did. No, he’s not here to sit and talk with us physically. But his Spirit is within us. Jesus’ life power is his gift to compel us to discipleship.
   With the Spirit’s help, study the Word. Pray and listen. Then go and do. Jesus and his love for the lost will become very real to you, too.
 
Your Life’s Purpose
 
Romans 11:36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
 
ARE you wondering about your life’s purpose? Then dwell on this verse. You are among the “everything” that “comes from him.” You “exist by his power.” Theis means you are “intended for his glory” so that “all glory is to him forever.”
          A purposeful life reveals God’s goodness. God’s will is your actions, your attitude and your words inform people that God’s grace brings salvation to all who believe in him.
          Live as closely as you spiritually can to God’s ways. Countless resources today tell you how you can have happiness, peace, money, a better job and more friends. But nothing is as true and lasting as the Bible. It is the resource to know how purposefully God created you for this time and place.