Hi Passionate Youth Reaching Out, today is Friday, August 12,This is Jonas & Caleb and this is StartUp, helping you start your day with an upward focus. At the beginning of Romans 9, we find Paul grieving over Israel’s unbelief.

Romans 9:1–5 (HCSB)

1 I speak the truth in Christ —I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit — 2 that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. 3 For I could almost wish to be cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. 5 The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.

Paul is grieving about his own nation Israel’s lack of unbelief.  But the original audience for Paul’s grief is the church in Rome, a predominantly non-Israelite crew.  Paul points out to them that his heart has continual anguish, he is always thinking about his friends back home.  his fellow country men seem to have every advantage available to them, but still they don’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the one who can save them from their sins.

Paul goes so far as to say that he wishes that he could take on their curse in order that they might be saved.  This isn’t possible, but we don’t have any reason to doubt the sincerity of Paul’s heart.

We all know people who don’t recognize Jesus as the Saviour of the World.  My fear is that we have become numb to their situation.  If we are truly aware of the peril of their spiritual condition, we will have a heart like Pauls here, wanting to do anything that we can for the sake of their salvation.

Challenge

My Challenge for you this week is to make a list of the forces that you are aware of that are coming against you in life.  Because we know that God is stronger and greater than these forces, go to God in prayer, believing that his power is more than enough to bring about his victory in your life.  Then trust it all to him, and whatever the outcome may be, know that God will use it for your good.

Invitation

Thanks to everyone who came to our youth Barbecue last night.  The next event that we have to look forward to is a night that is for our whole church.  We have rented a picnic site at Edworthy Park on Tuesday, August 30.  Plan to be there, and bring along everything that you need for supper, fun and relaxation.

Thanks for listening to today’s StartUp, you can find all of the details about our youth group online at hbcyouth.ca.  We are also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, all of the social media links are available at hbcyouth.ca .