A Heart That Breaks for the Lost

Romans 9:1–9

As we come to Romans 9, Paul does something that catches many people off guard.

Romans 8 ends with one of the greatest declarations in all of Scripture. Nothing can separate God's people from the love of Christ. We leave that chapter standing on the mountaintop of God's faithfulness and security.

Then Paul opens Romans 9 with tears.

Listen to what he says:

"I am speaking the truth in Christ I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart." (Romans 9:1–2)

Paul is talking about his fellow Israelites. These are his people. His family. His nation. Many of them had heard the truth about Christ and yet rejected Him.

Paul is not angry with them.

He is broken for them.

That has challenged me this week.

It is possible to know a lot about the Bible and still lose sight of people. It is possible to love good theology and yet forget to love those who need the Savior.

Paul shows us that a heart shaped by the gospel never becomes cold toward the lost.

The more he understood God's grace, the more he cared about people who needed it.

I think many of us know what that feels like.

Maybe you have a son or daughter who has wandered from the faith.

Maybe you have a spouse, parent, grandchild, coworker, or friend who has no interest in Christ.

You pray for them.

You talk with them.

You worry about them.

And sometimes your heart hurts for them.

Paul understood that feeling.

Yet in the middle of his sorrow, he gives us a tremendous comfort:

"But it is not as though the word of God has failed." (Romans 9:6)

What a statement.

People may reject Christ.

Circumstances may not unfold the way we hoped.

But God's Word never fails.

God has never lost control.

God has never forgotten His promises.

God has never been surprised by unbelief.

And God has never failed to accomplish His saving purposes.

That truth does not make us pray less.

It makes us pray more.

If salvation ultimately depended on human effort, human wisdom, or the perfect argument, there would be very little hope for any of us.

But salvation belongs to the Lord.

Because of that, there is always reason to keep praying. Always reason to keep sharing Christ. Always reason to keep hoping.

As your pastor, I want Berkeley Avenue Baptist Church to be a church that holds firmly to God's truth while loving people deeply.

I want us to be a church that cares about doctrine because doctrine tells us who God is.

But I also want us to be a church that never loses its compassion for people who need Jesus.

Paul shows us that these things belong together.

A big view of God should produce humble hearts.

Confidence in God's promises should produce patient prayer.

And a love for truth should produce a love for people.

My prayer this week is that God would give us hearts like Paul's.

Hearts that trust God's promises.

Hearts that rest in God's purposes.

And hearts that genuinely care for those who are still far from Christ.

If you are visiting Berkeley Avenue Baptist Church or reading this for the first time, know this:

There is hope for sinners because there is a merciful Savior.

And His promises never fail.