DCLM Higher Everyday 21 April 2024 — Paul’s Burden for his People
Topic: Paul’s Burden for his People
Text: Romans 9:1-6
1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Key Verse: “That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9: 2, 3).
Message
When Paul got converted, his eyes were opened to the full understanding of the riches that are found in Christ Jesus. Paul was not pleased that many of the Jews were cut off from the riches of Christ because of their unbelief. He wished himself “accursed from Christ” for them to be saved from sin. Similarly, Charles H. Spurgeon once said about John Bunyan, “…He often felt while preaching that he could give his own salvation for the salvation of his hearers.” Believers in Christ today belong to a biological or physical family and not every member of that family or friends and neighbours are saved from sin.
There should be a great burden on us to preach, pray and persuade sinners to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. David livingstone, T. L. Osborn and Mary Slessor, became missionaries due to their burden for perishing souls. God rewards faithful soul winners here and in eternity. Friend, let us be burdened for the salvation of our people who are ignorantly moving on the fast lane to hell.
Quote: Persuade sinners to accept Christ
Challenge: Let the salvation of souls be your daily burden.
Prayer for today: Help me, dear God to bring souls to you, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
