Our scripture this morning is Romans 10:1-4.
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
Paul was a Jew and had the love most of us have for “our people”. It hurt him deeply that many in Israel had rejected the Messiah who had come to save them. Christ had changed his life and he wanted them all to know that joy.
However, his given mission from God was as the apostle to the Gentiles. As much as Paul loved his people, he obeyed his calling from God and went everywhere but Israel to spread the Gospel. We still hear in his letters of his desire for Israel to turn to God and be saved.
Paul teaches that “all who believe in him are made right with God” (v. 4) and that repentance and faith in Jesus is the only way to salvation. We must understand that “our own way” can never save us. We are all God’s chosen people; we have only to choose Him and follow the path Christ has shown us into eternal life.
Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we choose our way instead of Yours. Bless us to go in Your name, sharing the gift of Your saving grace with everyone. Amen.