When you deeply care for someone and long for them to experience what you have, yet find yourself unable to convince them, what should you do? The answer is to pray. Notice how Paul models this in both the beginning of Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 of Romans.
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh (Romans 9:1-3).
The insights of chapter 9 are sandwiched between the prayers that begin chapters 9 and 10.
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.
For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (Romans 10:1-4).
Nothing compares to personally knowing God and experiencing His friendship daily. I long for the people in my life, and even those I don’t know but care about, to experience that kind of love.
Like Paul’s Jewish brothers and sisters, there are some who miss the experience of knowing God due to faulty preconceived ideas.
The Jewish misconception that prevented them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah was their strong focus on boundary markers like circumcision, food laws, the Sabbath, and the law itself. Their spiritual pride kept them stuck in these practices, causing them to miss the incredible opportunity to experience God’s love through His Son, Jesus.
It’s tragic that in today’s culture, the church has sometimes portrayed God in such an unflattering way that people are discouraged from wanting to know Him. This often happens through our behavior, but our words can be just as damaging.
In the 1990s, around 90% of Americans said they believed in God. By 2024, that number has fallen to 68%. I believe this decline is largely due to the behavior of the church.
Prayer’s Power
Paul is a great example of someone who believes in the power of prayer. Though he had compelling arguments to present to his Jewish brothers and sisters, he understood that prayer was his first and last resort.
Similarly, if we want our friends and family to experience God’s love as we have, prayer is a powerful way to help make that happen. Prayer enables us to see the world through God’s eyes and connects us with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus explained to His followers that the Holy Spirit works within the human heart to reveal the need for a Savior.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me;
About righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned (John 16.7-10).
How do we connect with the Holy Spirit? We connect through prayer.
The Problem of Apathy
One of the major challenges the Church faces today is apathy. There seems to be a lack of passion for reaching those who are distant from God’s love.
Prayer is the key to addressing this issue. We should ask God to reveal His love to us and fill our hearts with His love for those who need to know Him.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 