Devotions
Rev Gav
Whom
Romans 9.1–5
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Reflect
Three sentences. The first two express Paul’s anguish and use of hyperbole (exaggeration) to make his case that he would accept being cursed and excommunicated for the sake of his fellow Jews. The third sentence appears to be a prayer which, presumably, would have been known and recognised by those listening to his letter being read.
They are Israelites,
and to them belong
the adoption,
the glory
the covenants,
the giving of the law,
the worship,
and the promises;
to them belong the patriarchs,
and from them,
according to the flesh,
comes the Messiah,
who is over all,
God blessed for ever.
Amen.
Paul laments the tragedy of those whom God adopted as community, and through whom the world might be blessed, not recognising nor acknowledging the Messiah. He would do anything to convince them of the truth revealed to him and confirmed through his Holy-Spirit inspired conscience.
Today, I was reminded that the Holy Spirit is always outward looking and looking to the interests of others — moving towards love and inclusion. The Spirit cannot be contained, despite governmental or church laws, legalism, and exclusive hierarchies. The Spirit lives in us and wants to work in and through us with the mutual purposes of refining us to make us more Christlike, and to reach the world with God’s love.
Having volunteered and worked in church communities for most of my life, I have witnessed how much of our time is spent ‘on the church infrastructure’ — arranging flowers, maintaining leaky roofs, convening committee meetings, organising Sundays, and doing any number of things to ‘keep the show on the road’. Yet, a local or networked church is a community of people called to join in with the ongoing mission of God in the world. We are a people with a purpose.
God has put on my heart those who find themselves marginalised by the Church or communities in which they find themselves, typically because of their lifestyle, gender, sexuality, age, race, or ability — but it could be any ‘thing’ by which someone is belittled or excluded because of who they are or how they live.
The question today is, if you have asked the Holy Spirit to fill you, for whom has God given you a heart? For whom does your soul ache when you think about them? For whom would you, in the words of Paul, accept being cursed and excommunicated from Christ?
Pray
Holy God
As your Holy Spirit has filled me
and speaks through my conscience,
so may I recognise those whom
you wish to reach with your love.
May I be obedient to your will and purpose
and be ready to sacrifice all
for the sake of your gospel.
In and through Christ.
and then