How Paul Prayed for the Unsaved

“I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience
confirms it in the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my
heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for
the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is
the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of
the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and
from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever
praised! Amen” (Romans 9:1-5).

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the
Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they
are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did
not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their
own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law
so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Romans 10:1-4).

Do you see the parallels in these two passages? Here they
are: sorrow, anguish, brothers, heart’s desire, prayer, Israelites. This is how
Paul approached evangelism: emotional intensity in prayer to God for unsaved
people.

This post coordinates with today’s reading in the Same
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