August 6 Romans 9:1-5 Loves Trinity       Three times Paul proclaims his desire to give his soul for others.

                                      Psalter reading Psalm17:1-7

A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. 2Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. 3You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. 5Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. 6I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. 7Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.  Psalm17:1-7 NKJV

1I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Romans 9:1-5 NKJV

Often it is hard for us to get worked up for the lost.  They, well, seem so lost!  Sometimes we can even believe that they deserve what they will get.  After all they can turn to God can’t they?

Paul embarrasses us.  Three times he states proof that he would if possible be “accursed from Christ for my brethren”.  Have ever felt like that?  Is there someone who you would give your soul for?  Is there someone you love that much?

Paul shows us the heart of agape love and the heart of Jesus Christ.  A passion for others to come to Jesus burned hot and scorched his soul and purified his heart!

Paul’s heart became the heart of Christ and he willingly gave all he had, all he was and all he could have been to cry out to a dark world that God’s Light had come!

Paul responded to the salvation and blessing of new life in Jesus by allowing God to remake his heart to love the things that God loves.  As God lead Paul through so many struggles and so much suffering Paul trusted God would uphold him by God’s lovingkindness. 

The fullness of God’s love burned in Paul like a fire and burned out the dross of his life and made a man who lived out the heart of God!

May the Love of Jesus Light a Fire in your heart and through your life set the world on fire for Jesus!