[1] I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—[2] that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. [3] For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:1–3)
Far too many of us can relate to the Apostle Paul’s grief in this passage.
The Apostle Paul was Jewish. Among the epistle writers there was no one greater in explaining how Jesus ushered in a new covenant from God, a covenant that superseded his covenant with the Jewish people.
It was with “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” that Paul grieved so many Jewish people rejecting Jesus as the Messiah.
We can relate to the apostle’s experience. We likely know people, maybe even friends and family, who have fallen away from the faith. Today they no longer profess faith in Christ or have embraced a different religion.
As a parish pastor I remember reporting to our elders that a young couple from our church had joined a cult called “The Way.” After repeated visits with the couple it was clear they were entrenched in this false faith. The elders were shocked that two people who were baptized, confirmed and married in our church would leave the faith. The elders who knew the couple the longest were embarrassed they had no idea this had happened. The experience let to the elders calling on the members on their elders lists four times a year.
If you are grieving the spiritual loss of brothers or sisters in the faith, my encouragement is that you stay connected to them. You don’t have as much in common as you did previously, but you still have things in common. You may be only Christian staying in contact with them. In addition, keep praying for those who have walked away from Jesus. I know we can get weary of such prayers. I’ve prayed for one such friend for 30 years. Still, persist in prayer. What we can’t accomplish, God can.
(A Second Look devotions are written for the congregations of the Ohio District LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 