Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:1-4 (NLT)
Paul was given a mission from God. That mission was to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. But Paul’s heart was with the Jews. He was sad the Jews refused the gift of Jesus’ blood sacrifice. They wanted a relationship with God but they wanted to do it their way, the “way it had always been” by trying to obey the many laws, not just the ones God had given but all the ones they had added in an effort to make themselves acceptable to God. Paul knew they were doomed to fail.
Paul’s mission is the same as mine; the same as yours. We are to share the Good News that Jesus has accomplished a way for all of us to have a relationship with our Father God. But too often we, in the Church, spend our time debating doctrines and judging others to make sure “sinners” do not infect our fellowships, whether in the pews or the pulpits. Didn’t Jesus say that He came to find the lost (Luke 19:10)? Didn’t He say it was the sick who needed Him (Matthew 9:12)? Our fellowships are to be open to all who are sick with sin.
We are to be Jesus’ hands and feet to our lost world. It isn’t enough when we take Thanksgiving baskets to the poor and blankets to the homeless. We are to build a relationship with them and make them feel welcome inside our churches. The Good News is not just a list of “do’s and don’t’s” but my testimony of how Jesus cleaned my stinky sin and made me brand new – and continues to do so every day as I meet Him in prayer.
Oh, my brothers and sisters, let us throw off the pride and self-righteousness which we use as cloaks over our own sins and reach out to others, regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and say, “Come! Come, let us meet with Jesus and learn from Him because His burden is easy and light!”
Love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, spirit and strength.
Love your neighbors as you love yourself.
Let us get up every day and ask Jesus to help us fulfill our mission He has for us that day and leave the judgment to Him. And if, while working together, on some point of doctrine we disagree – let us allow Jesus to speak to us in Spirit and Truth.
I wasn’t familiar with this song. Old Time Southern Gospel is not a favorite style of mine but I love the prayer which has been set to music. The lyrics are printed below.
Teach Me, LORD, to Wait written by Stuart Hamblen & sung by Gaither singers
Teach me, Lord to wait
Down on my knees
Till in your own good time
You will answer my pleas
Teach me not to rely on what others do
But to wait in prayer
For an answer from You
They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me, Lord, to wait
Teach me, Lord to wait
While my heart is all aflame
Let me humble my pride
And call on Your name
Keep my faith renewed;
Keep my eyes fixed on You
Let me be on this earth
What You want me to be
They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me, Lord to wait
