“With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 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. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”
Romans 9:1-5 NLT Do you have fellow countrymen or family that need to come to Christ? Paul was lamenting the reality of the rejection that the nation of Israel had demonstrated toward the Messiah (same as Christ - The Anointed One). Jesus had come to His own nation and was rejected. He was an Israelite, a Jew. John 1:10-12 says "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” NLT I am so honored to know the God who made me, Jesus Christ. He has also re-made me! I pray that God will open the hearts and minds of people so they can see their need to accept Jesus as well. Paul states in the beginning of today's scripture that he would be willing to be cursed-cut off from Jesus if that would save his fellow countrymen. In essence, he was saying that he would be willing to go to hell if that would open their eyes to Jesus. What a statement! His love and concern for his fellow man was beyond his own self interest. How about us? Do we love our fellow man that much? Do we weep over the lost condition of those around us? Are we praying for them and seeking the face of God on their behalf? God loved the world so much that He gave His Son to pay for its sin. Surely, if we are God's redeemed children, we should love them like Jesus did! Every person is an eternal soul. Their only hope is Jesus. Are we presenting Him to them? Lastly, let's pray for the peace of Jerusalem! God's Word calls us to do so. “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” Psalms 122:6 NLT God Bless Israel!!! In Jesus name!!!
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![]() Rev. Curtis Norris Archives
March 2020
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