1Dear friends, my greatest wish and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2I know they love God, but they don't understand 3what makes people acceptable to him. So they refuse to trust God, and they try to be acceptable by obeying the Law. 4But Christ makes the Law no longer necessary for those who become acceptable to God by faith.
I sincerely thought I mailed my bills one month. I was irate when I received late charges. I called people and complained at their lack of thoroughness. Imagine my surprise when I found the stamped envelopes lying on my desk. When the truth was revealed I was completely embarrassed...mostly because I was so sure I had been right. I still wanted those companies to forgive me though...because I sincerely 'intended" to pay those bills. I'm not a bad person. Believe me when I say...sincerity does not pay the bills or avoid the late charges.
We all know sincerity is nice...but it's not the most important of qualities. It's possible to be sincerely wrong. Yet...if we arent' careful...we frequently let sincerity cloud our judgment of what right or wrong.
It's important to remember this when it comes to unbelievers...particularly our loved ones. It's tempting to excuse their lack of faith because they are "such nice people". And really...how many unbelievers do we know who really "deserve" what's waiting for them?
There are those who say we Christians are far to sure of ourselves when it comes to our faith. They say our absolute certainty...no matter how sincere...is still only faith. We could be just as wrong as the sincere Jews who reject Christ.
And, of course they are right. There is a risk inherent in any sincerely held belief. What if Paul is wrong about the law? If he is, I'm too far behind to catch up. As for me...I'm content with the risk I've taken...thanks to the Holy Spirit. I suspect unbelievers are just as comfortable with their risk as well. Impasse? I don't believe so. Paul says this was his "greatest prayer", that Israel would be saved.
A.B. Simpson's wife would occasionally get up in the morning and find him spread out on the floor weeping and praying for the lost. I honestly pray for unbelievers. I sincerely pray for unbelieving friends. Is it my "greatest" prayer? Honestly?
Well...?
Shame on me...
Live boldly out there today...
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