Evangelism: "Being Broken for those separated from God."
Romans 9:2-3 “My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—If that would save them.”
In this verse Paul gives us some insight into his brokenness for those who don’t know Jesus. Paul is describing a brokenness for those that think they are a part of the promise because of their race (name, heritage, etc). Paul uses scripture to show how being born a jew doesn’t mean you are apart of the promise. This is an interesting claim considering that still today most jews (at least I think this is so) consider themselves a part of the promise of God simply because they are a jew. This seems to be true in Christian circles as well; many Christians assume folks are jews simply because they are born a jew. Here in Romans, Paul seems to point in a slightly different direction. Back to this verse……Paul is broken for these folks that are outside of the promise of God and Paul would do anything to bring them into the promise; even give up his own salvation that these people would come to know Jesus Christ.
As I read this verse this morning I am hearing my Coach in the background saying, “you have to be broken for the people you are serving.” Paul gives me a glimpse of what it means to be broken for those that don’t know Jesus. I have to hurt for them so much that I would even give up my own salvation that they might find Jesus. What does it mean to be broken in this way for the lost of my community? How does this kind of aching for those that don’t know Jesus become essential for the planting of Crossroads? Was not Jesus this broken for me? Did not Jesus go to the cross and become separated from God that I might be joined back with God? Was God not able to transform Jesus’ brokenness into a new wholeness through the resurrection? Perhaps in my complete brokenness for the lost of my community I find the resurrecting grace of Jesus Christ. Perhaps God can take that brokenness and use it as a bridge to bring others to Him along with transforming my brokenness into a brand new wholeness. Perhaps I haven’t experience true wholeness until I become broken for God’s people in the same way Jesus was broken for me.
Lord Jesus I come to you this morning repenting of my sin for not being completely broken for your people in the way you were broken for me. I have lusted after the things of this world and become more broken for them then for your people. I pray that you would forgive me and transform my brokenness. Give me Paul’s heart for those in my community that don’t know you; give me the grace to be broken for their souls. Use me as a tool of transformation in their brokenness that they might come to know you. God, bring the lost of my community to you; show me how you want to use me and Crossroads to bring about this transformation in their lives. May I find my salvation in this brokenness for your people in the same way Jesus brought about my salvation through His brokenness for me upon the cross. Amen!
God can use my brokenness for His people to bring about wholeness in the lives of others.
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