God Longs for Israel's Restoration
Scripture Passage: Romans 10:1-8 (NASB)
1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes of the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who performs them will live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
SUMMARY
Paul expresses his longing for the people of Israel to be saved through faith in Jesus. The Jews certainly have love and enthusiasm for God, but they will not accept God’s way of salvation. They instead try to earn their own salvation and righteousness by following the law. If only the Jews would simply have faith, they would not try to “go up to heaven” or “descend into the abyss” to get to God. Their salvation and righteousness is simply on their lips and their heart, if they would just believe and confess that Jesus is the Lord who already fulfilled their salvation for them.
REFLECTION AND MEDITATION
The gospel message of Jesus Christ as Savior who secured my salvation by dying on the cross is oftentimes difficult for even me to fathom and believe. How could there be such an unimaginable gift for free for such a sinner and insignificant person like me? As God’s chosen Israel, I can imagine why the gospel would be even more difficult, even offensive, to accept that salvation is for Jews and Gentiles alike, for anyone who believes and confesses that Jesus already paid for our salvation.
However, the gospel reveals so much about the character of God. The gift of salvation is not whether the receiver deserved it or not, they didn’t-- but so much can be said about the giver of the gift. He is so merciful and kind, with a relentless love for all man-kind.
APPLICATION
I pray for Israel and the Jews to continue to come to faith in the gospel message of Jesus. I don’t know many Jews or Israelis around me, so it might seem like a far-fetched prayer, but I know it’s God’s heart for Israel to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. God is waiting and yearning for Israel, his chosen people.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for your will to be done for Israel to turn back to you and be restored. Thank you that I get to partake in your will through prayer, even though I don’t know them personally. But you expanded by heart and my vision to be a little bit more like yours. Thank you for the grace and privilege. I pray that I get to witness your work of restoration to be done in Israel and the rest of the world, for Jews and Gentiles alike. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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